BeFrugal.com has a Fly or Drive Calculator to help you decide which mode of travel is best © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Say you are planning to travel to from New York City to Montreal. Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

When planning a trip, start with a free online tool to decide whether flying or driving makes more sense to get from point A to point B. The Fly or Drive Calculator (http://www.befrugal.com/tools/fly-or-drive-calculator/) factors in time taken, cost and carbon emissions. Use the Fly or Drive Calculator from money saving website BeFrugal.com to determine the best travel mode for your next trip in a few minutes or less.

Simply enter your starting location, destination, travel dates, number of travelers and whether or not it is a one-way trip. Next you can fast forward to results or insert more detailed, optional information such as the vehicle you’d drive, number of hours to drive daily, hotel cost per night, tolls, airports, time at the airport, flying costs (transportation to and from the airport, checked bag feeds, plane ticket pricing, etc.) then view your customized results. A detailed comparison of your travel options is shown to compare the door-to-door time, total cost and CO2 impact.

BeFrugal.com now provides average coupon savings of 27% per order for online purchases plus an average rate of 7% cash back.

BeFrugal.com offers discounts on travel through coupons, deals and cash back with Travelocity, Marriot, Avis, Expedia and more travel merchants:

• · Codes are posted for online coupons
• · Deals are also posted (these do not require a promo code).
• · Cash back is a portion of an online purchase that is deposited into a free BeFrugal.com account. When you are ready, get paid by PayPal or a check in the mail: http://www.befrugal.com/cashback/

For example, see the BeFrugal page for Marriot http://www.befrugal.com/coupons/store/marriott. Codes, deals and cash back are all available.

Here is a list of travel merchants BeFrugal can help travelers save at http://www.befrugal.com/coupons/category/travel

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MyCityWay is a situationally-aware smart app available for use in over 100 cities worldwide including 40 U.S. cities.

Visitors have a new mobile app to help them navigate a city. MyCityWay is a situationally-aware smart app available for use in over 100 cities worldwide including 40 U.S. cities.

Bringing in the utility of more than 30 different Apps, MyCityWay applies artificial intelligence technologies once reserved for high-powered algorithmic trading to making navigating a city easy, fun and personalized.

Funded by the City of New York and BMWi Ventures (the venture capital company founded by BMW Group), the MyCityWay app harnesses information from hundreds of content partners, cross-references it to ensure validity and instantaneously prioritizes information according to the users’ needs and preferences by uniquely marrying location, intent, timing and information from their social graph.

MyCityWay helps travelers quickly and easily…

· Move: Find local transportation options, schedules and routes

· Shop: Discover the best boutiques by category, neighborhood and location and find sales and deals close by

· Play: Purchase tickets to tours and attractions across the city and identify free activities, including cultural centers, landmarks, museums, art galleries and parks.

· Eat: Choose the best restaurants by neighborhood or cuisine, read reviews, make reservations and get directions

· Party: Learn about the best a city offers after-hours – nightclubs, lounges, sports bars or comedy clubs

· Take care of business: Pinpoint nearby bathrooms and WiFi hotspots

To download the app, visit iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Nokia or MyCityWay Download Page.

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The Broadway League has launched BROADWAY.ORG, a comprehensive resource dedicated to providing theatre-goers around the world with information about all Broadway shows—both in New York and across North America © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The Broadway League has launched BROADWAY.ORG, a comprehensive resource dedicated to providing theatre-goers around the world with information about all Broadway shows—both in New York and across North America.

BROADWAY.ORG combines two previously existing sites: ilovenytheater.com, specifically targeted to Broadway shows in New York, and touringbroadway.com, which was the League’s official website for Touring Broadway productions in nearly 200 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. With improved functionality, the new site continues to be the official source of information and provider of direct access to all things Broadway.

“BROADWAY.ORG furthers the notion that Broadway is a state of mind rather than a set geographical location. Our ultimate goal is to provide a premier one-stop consumer site for show information and official ticketing links, combining Broadway and Touring Broadway in a central location and under a single site identity,” says Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “If you want to see a Broadway show, regardless if you are home or out-of-town, you can go to BROADWAY.ORG to find out where and when it’s playing and easily buy your tickets from the authorized source.”

The new site features a deep integration between the New York City and touring shows. Site users can locate theatres across North America where Broadway shows are playing, and link to their official sites for more information. If they are on the page for a Broadway show, they will also be able to easily view its upcoming tour stops; and when on the page for a show on tour, will be able to see that it is also playing in New York and get information on that production.

The new site provides up-to-date show and theatre information in six languages, a guide to hotel and dining options in Manhattan’s Theatre District, and general information about Broadway theatre-going. It provides access to show tickets at all price points to current and upcoming shows, direct from the theatres’ official ticketing offices in real time, without broker markups.

The thoroughness and simplicity of the new site can be demonstrated with numerous features that are easy to navigate including: Google Maps and social media integration, the ability to search by location, an interactive map of the NYC theatre district and multi-media galleries. The League will be able to communicate timely announcements such as holiday schedules, weather advisories, updates on programs such as Kids’ Night on Broadway^®, and more.

The site also features a mobile app for Broadway in New York and later this year an enhanced app to include touring data is being planned. The League’s Digital and Technology team created the new site with the aid of website design firm Lounge Lizard.

For more than a century, Broadway has been considered the pinnacle of live theatrical entertainment. Broadway is where America’s greatest playwrights, composers, lyricists, actors, singers, dancers, directors, designers, and choreographers bring great plays and musicals to life. Touring Broadway encompasses first-class, professional productions that bring these shows to fans across North America.

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Upcoming events

May                      25           The Lighthouse re-opens after the “Super Storm”

                                             Reduced Tower Tours on Memorial Day Weekend

June

Saturday         15        Sunset & Starlight Lighthouse Cruise

                                    Special Fundraiser – 6 pm – 10 pm aboard the Lauren Kristy.

The Lauren Kristy is a 65 foot turn-of-the-century style riverboat.  It sails from the Bay Shore Marina located at the end of Clinton Avenue in Bay Shore.  Cruise around the Bay while dancing and dining.   Reservations required-limited to 100 people.  $65 for FILPS members and $75 for the general public.

Friday              28        12^th Annual Benefit Art Show-through July 19

Local artists display their nautical artwork in the Keepers Quarters at the Lighthouse.  Opening reception will be held on June 27- 6pm – 9pm (take a shuttle bus from Field #5 RMSP).  All artwork is for sale with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Lighthouse by the artist.  Admission free.

July

All Saturdays              Lighthouse is open late – 8 pm

Enjoy the early evening at the Lighthouse.  Beat the parking fee after 6pm. Tower tours are available until 7:30 pm at regular fee. Weather permitting please call ahead

(631) 661-4876.   Every Saturday in July.

Wednesday    10        “Jr. Lighthouse Rangers” Summer Program

Six week program that meets Wednesday mornings from 10am until noon, July 10 through August 14, 2013.  A fun & informative experience of children ages 7 – 14 years old.  Learn about life on a barrier beach in the days of sailing ships.  Climb the lighthouse!  Participate in a mock US Life Saving Service rescue.  Seining in the Great South Bay offers children an opportunity to explore the myriad of marine life.  Nautical crafts round out the program.  Call for an application.  $85 per child.

Saturday         13        Light Keepers Behind the Scenes Tour

9 am – Follow one of our present day Lighthouse Keepers on his rounds.  This bottom to top tour takes you from the auxiliary generator and the Light Keepers workshop in the basement of the Keeper’s Quarters to the beacon in the lantern room of the lighthouse tower. Learn how lighthouse Keepers in the 1860’s to 2013 maintained the light.   Includes a tour of the Lens Building which houses our original first order Fresnel Lens.  $20 per person – Reservations required. Limit 12 people.

The Lighthouse and museum is open all year round.  Tower tours 10am to 5pm.  All parking is in Field #5 of the Robert Moses State Park. Tower tours are $7 adults, $4 seniors & Children under 12 (children must be 42” tall to climb).  Foot ware is required to climb.

The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, 4640 Captree Island, Captree Island, NY 11702,  www.fireislandlighthouse.com, 631-661-4876.

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Take Me Out, a NYC nightlife tour company takes guests to the hottest spots around the city, handling everything from limousine transportation to reservations at each stop © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Take Me Out, a NYC nightlife tour company takes guests to the hottest spots around the city, handling everything from limousine transportation to reservations at each stop.

While it may be a nightlife tour, Take Me Out is aimed at everyone, not just tourists. The company prides itself on providing an alternative way to explore the city’s nightlife that won’t have you waiting in line outside for hours.

“Take Me Out is a great way for everyone to experience New York City and we are actually one of the only night life tours in the city, said Mor “What makes us stand out is that we take our guests to exclusive places. These are places you can’t get in without a reservation. It definitely has a VIP feel.”

One of the Take Me Out’s tours includes the popular Mixology tour. This particular tour includes two charted limos, guides who whip up great drinks for tour-goers along the way, and stops at some of the city’s trendiest bars.

If you’re the type who is looking for something a little different, try the company’s most popular tour, the Prohibition Tour. This tour transports you back to the 1920’s and takes you to secret bars and hidden speakeasies throughout the city. Along the way, sip champagne, enjoy the limo ride, and learn about the era as you visit each stop.

Other tours include their nightclub tour for those who love to dance, and a singles social tour.

“The goal with launching this company is that I wanted to create something that guests could enjoy and that stood out from the typical nightlife experience in the city,” continued Mor. “Everyone enjoys the tours, both locals and tourists. They are also perfect for events like birthday parties, and with wedding season right around the corner, it’s the perfect idea for a bachelor or bachelorette party!”

Take Me Out Tours currently offers five tours, but also offers custom events. Attendees can expect on average three stops per tour and each starts from $100-$150 per person. Tours run most nights of the week, starting as early as 5pm, with most starting around 9pm.

For more information on Take Me Out, visit http://www.takemeoutnyc.com.

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Hidden Harbor summer tours take visitors behind the scenes to see the inner workings of New York City’s famous harbor © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Every Tuesday through September you can experience a true adventure, “Hidden Harbor Tours,” – cruising aboard the luxury yacht Zephyr behind the scenes to discover the inner workings of the bustling New York Harbor.

New for the 2013 summer season is the tour series: “Beyond Sandy, Keeping The Conversation Alive” featuring three different areas of interest each week with noted speakers and charities onboard (see website for full list). The exciting and educational tours are presented by the Working Harbor Committee (non-profit) in partnership with the New York Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown by the Working Harbor Committee (nonprofit) in partnership with the New York Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown. Tuesday sailings depart at 6:30pm from Pier 16 South Street Seaport, New York, New York (Fulton Street and South Street).

“Beyond Sandy” tours provide three themed sailings:

Tour 1: High Seas on the Inner Harbor: From Wall Street to Snug Harbor

Tour 2: Fire, Floods and Floating Containers: East River – Hell Gate to Governors Island

Tour 3: Protecting Our Ports: From Red Hook to Newark Bay.

Additionally, Hidden Harbor Tours will feature its popular Newark Bay Tour and North River Tour on select Tuesday sailings.

The tours cost: Adults $39, Seniors $32, Children ages 3-12 $25, Under age 3 are free. For ticket information and full tour schedule visit: https://www.circlelinedowntown.com/tours/hidden-harbors, 212-742-1969 by phone or www.workingharbor.org.

Zephyr, a luxury yacht, features two fully enclosed decks, plusan open-air roof deck – all decks boast panoramic views. A portion of the ticket price goes to the Working Harbor Committee to support its programming.

Featured Speakers include: Captain John Doswell, Working Harbor Committee; Chris Ward, Executive Vice President, Dragados USA; formerly with The Port Authority New York & New Jersey; Helena Durst, President, New York Water Taxi; Lucy Ambrosino, Outreach Manager of Port Commerce, The Port Authority New York & New Jersey; Dr. Philip Orton, legendary research scientist, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey; and Jill Eisenhard, Executive Director, Red Hook Initiative.

The Mission of the Working Harbor Committee is to strengthen awareness of the working harbor’s history and vitality today, and its opportunities for the future by: Involving people in learning how the harbor works and what it does; Educating people in the rich and challenging history of the harbor; Making people aware of the need to build and sustain the working harbor. Visit www.workingharbor.org for more information.

New York Water Taxi (NYWT), an affiliate company of The Durst Organization, Inc., has been a New York fixture since 2002. Beginning with a spunky fleet of five distinctive black and yellow-checkered vessels, today the iconic 12-vessel fleet also includes the vessels of NYWT’s sister organization Circle Line Downtown, the speedboat thrill ride Shark, and the luxury yacht Zephyr. Sought after for weddings, special events and corporate occasions, the newly refurbished Zephyr boasts three decks, two full bars, plush climate controlled interior, an expansive dance floor and spectacular views. NYWT’s mission is to provide entertaining, stimulating, and enlightening ways to see New York City’s dazzling skyline, celebrated bridges, lush waterfront parks and enjoy the City, while maintaining a community-conscious fleet that honors cherished waterways. For more information, visit www.nywatertaxi.com

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Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas anchored at its private island. RCL is offering $100 onboard credit for bookings made on May 18, 2013 © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Book a cruise with Royal Caribbean International on Saturday, May 18, 2013 and receive up to $100 onboard credit on summer 2013 sailings. Guests can apply their onboard credit toward a Royal Caribbean signature cocktail at the Sail-away Party, a specialty dining experience to celebrate a family milestone, or a shore excursion for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in some of the world’s most exciting destinations, among others. The offer applies for all new U.S. and Canadian individual bookings for any Royal Caribbean International ship departing June 1 through Aug. 31, 2013. For more information, visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/SuperSaturday.

Vacationers have a world of summer cruise options with Royal Caribbean’s fleet of 21 of the industry’s most innovative cruise ships sailing to Bermuda and the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and the Far East. For sailings departing from June through August 2013, vacationers will receive $25 onboard credit per inside or oceanview stateroom and $50 onboard credit per suite or stateroom with balcony. Vacationers who act quickly and sail in June will receive double onboard credit of $50 per inside or oceanview stateroom and $100 per suite or stateroom with balcony. The offer is subject to availability and additional restrictions may apply.

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 40-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry firsts never-before-seen at sea. The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 10 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards.

For more information, contact your travel agent or visit www.royalcaribbean.com

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Doubling her dining options, Brilliance of the Seas now offers guests a wide variety of culinary experiences from family-style festivity at the Italian trattoria, Giovanni’s Table, to the intimate and exclusive multi-course Chef’s Table. Guests can expand their palettes at a multitude of other dining venues including Royal Caribbean’s signature Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café and Rita’s Cantina.

In addition, the five-story Centrum – which is the focal point of the ship – has been transformed into a spectacular new space featuring the Centrum experience, which includes the addition of the 60’s-inspired R Bar as well as a multitude of entertainment experiences including enriching daytime activities, dazzling nighttime entertainment and a new high-flying entertainment experience where aerialists glide through the vertical space of the atrium.

The ship also features a new location for the Concierge Club for suite guests, a Diamond Club for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members, a new English pub and the popular Royal Babies and Tots Nursery giving parents more opportunities to enjoy the ship’s amenities with peace of mind that their babies are being tended to by qualified care givers. Guests also will find that staying connected at sea will be easier with Wi-Fi access throughout the ship and enjoy a host of technology enhancements that include flat-panel televisions in all staterooms, an outdoor LED movie screen on the pool deck, as well as an interactive digital way-finding system. Old favorites such as the self-leveling pool tables, the adults-only Solarium and the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center can still be found onboard and are sure to delight guests of all ages.

Brilliance of the Seas’ Northern Europe season includes eight sailings that offer the best of the North and Baltic seas, calling at Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Talinn, Estonia; Gothenburg, Sweden; and offering an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia. An 11-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland itinerary, sailing July 27, will call at Bergen and Geiranger, Norway; Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; with an overnight in Reykjavik, Iceland. Brilliance of the Seas departs for Boston, Mass. on August 31 on a 15-night itinerary, calling at Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; Portland, Dorset, UK; Cork (Cobh) and Dublin, Ireland; Klaksvik; with an overnight at Reykjavik.

For more information, contact your travel agent or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.

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The number of wineries in Michigan topped the 100 mark in January. Twenty-five of them – fully one-quarter – are along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, the state’s oldest and largest.

“The growth in wineries in Leelanau Peninsula has been amazing, and our loops have been developed to make it easier for visitors to plan trips through wine country,” states Trail President Matt Gregory. “The main goal is to offer an enjoyable experience for people to explore our wines and tasting rooms and to unlock the hidden treasures of Michigan’s Wine Coast.”

The Northern Loop covers the northern half of the peninsula and holds ten wineries located in and around the villages of Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Omena and iconic destinations like the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Fishtown.

The Grand Traverse Bay Loop stretches from just outside Traverse City to Suttons Bay along the east side of the peninsula and features nine wineries and the Leelanau Bike Trail.

The Sleeping Bear Loop consists of six wineries in the western half of the peninsula from Glen Arbor to Cedar to Lake Leelanau and boasts the stunning beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Visitors can pick up a Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail brochure with a handy map at any of the wineries and various regional businesses. The brochure and maps are available online at www.lpwines.com. The trail has also released a free iPhone app for easy access to Leelanau wineries, lodging, restaurants and more.

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Conrad Miami will offer the “Stay Cool” package for the months of July and August. Guests must book between June 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013 and will be able to lock-in room rates based on the highest Fahrenheit temperature of the day of booking, as shown on the Conrad Miami website under the weather section of the hotel’s homepage. For example, a high temperature of 94 degrees means that guests can book a deluxe room for only $94 per night.

To book, call 305-503-6557 and request the “Stay Cool” package.

The applicable deluxe room rate will be determined solely by the hotel and will be the highest Fahrenheit temperature the day of booking. The same applicable deluxe room rate will apply throughout the entirety of the stay. The temperature taken into consideration will be the one posted on Conrad Miami’s website under the “At a Glance” menu under the “Hotel Information” tab or click. To book, call 305-503-6557 and request the “Stay Cool” package.

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