American moves to Terminal 4 on Feb. 26
Here’s a heads-up if you’re flying American Airlines: On Wednesday, Feb. 26, American will switch terminals at Phoenix Sky Harbor International as part of its merger with US Airways.
American, which has fewer than 20 daily flights out of Phoenix compared to more than 200 for US Airways, is moving from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4, where US Airways is based. American passengers will check in at a new American Airlines ticket counter in the terminal.
Travelers unfamiliar with Terminal 4 should allow extra time because it is the airport’s busiest terminal, accounting for 82 percent of passengers. US Airways and Southwest Airlines dominate the terminal.
Lonely Planet’s inspired lodgings
Looking for inspiration for this year’s vacation? Lonely Planet last week released its Top 10 list of extraordinary places to stay in 2014.
You won’t find a big chain hotel in this bunch of “breathtaking” hotels and hostels around the world. The list, based on recommendations from the travel guide’s writers and editors, highlights places that feature local color and “fire your imagination.” Accommodations include a cave, two tree houses and a lighthouse. The lineup:
1. Mihir Garh, Rajasthan, India. mihir garh.com.
2. Planet Baobab, Gweta, Botswana. unchartedafrica.com.
3. Prendiparte Bed & Breakfast, Bologna, Italy. prendiparte.it.
4. Qasr Al Sarab, United Arab Emirates. qasralsarab.anantara.com.
5. Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania, Australia. cradlemountain lodge.com.au.
6. Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver Island, Canada. freespiritspheres.com.
7. Taskonak Hotel, Cappadocia, Turkey. taskonak.net.
8. Thonga Beach Lodge, Mabibi Beach, South Africa. thongabeachlodge.co.za.
9. Saugerties Lighthouse, Saugerties, N.Y. saugertieslighthouse.com.
10. The Gibbon Experience Treehouse, Bokeo Reserve, Laos. gibbonexperience.org.
For more about the hotels on the list, as well as other Top 10 hotel lists, go to lonelyplanet.com.
Travel ticker
» TravelChannel.com last week announced its third annual list of best beaches. There’s one winner each in categories ranging from best beach for adventure (Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu, Calif.,) to best beach you haven’t heard of (Don Pedro Island State Park, Cape Haze, Fla.).
» My favorite last-minute hotel-booking app, HotelTonight, is branching out. Travel news and data provider Skift reports that the company quietly added a “Crashpad” category during an update last week. The option is currently available only in Europe, Skift says. HotelTonight’s main business is offering discounted hotels for stays that night. Daily deals for each destination are posted at 9 a.m. local time.
» Circus Circus, the Las Vegas hotel with an amusement park inside, this week added a roller coaster it says is the second of its kind in the country. The El Loco at Circus Circus’ Adventuredome, goes up to 45 miles per hour during the 72-second ride. The Adventuredome sells ride-allday wristbands. Prices are $16.95 for those under 48 inches and $29.95 for patrons 48 inches and taller.