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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

February 9, 2004

Hotel Spas Can't Get a Break
Looking for that perfect hotel spa, where the service is exquisite, the facilities spectacular and the specialists are gods and goddesses of massage, hot rocks and pedicures? Fuhgeddaboutit! The spa mavens from Mobil Travel Guide -- armed with horror stories of scarred skin, plucked-off eyebrows and gum-chewing attendants -- say there's not a five-star hotel spa to be found in the country. "There was no spa that reached the highest level," said Shane Flaherty, vice president of business planning for Mobil Travel Guide. "You have to be perfect to get five stars." Chicago Tribune | Posted 6 a.m.
-- BW: Mobil introduces first spa ratings

• I just reviewed my notes from a story I wrote several years ago for Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine about spas. Sure enough, there were more horror stories than actually made the article. Send us your comments.

Wheelchair? That'll Be Extra
 Budget airline Ryanair is being accused of making a whopping 2,400% profit from charging passengers for using wheelchairs at Stansted Airport. Ryanair has been ordered to provide wheelchairs on all flights after a recent court case. It plans to charge each passenger an extra 50p per ticket to cover the cost. But the Disability Rights Commission reckons that the airline could provide the same service for just 2p. Ryanair was last month found guilty of discrimination for charging disabled passenger Bob Ross £18 for a wheelchair ride to the departure gate at Stansted. Evening Standard | Posted 6:15 a.m.
-- BBC: Ryanair appeals over wheelchair ruling

Richmond on Verge of Adding Tax
The General Assembly appears willing to let Richmond's suburban neighbors raise their lodging tax to support a downtown performing-arts center. But whether the counties - or even the city - are ready to back the increase is another matter. The House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a bill this week that would allow Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties to increase their transient occupancy tax rates from 8 percent to 9 percent to support the center. The Senate approved a similar measure last week. As a city, Richmond can raise its hotel tax without the state's blessing. Times Dispatch | Posted 6:20 a.m.
<-- Elliott.org: Hotel fee relapse

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• And finally ... thanks to all of you who tracked me down at the LA Times Travel Show last weekend. We had a great time, and I'll see the rest of you at the Miami Herald Travel Expo in March. Posted 6:30 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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