JetBlue, New York’s hometown gay-friendly airline, will add flights this spring between New York JFK and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  Punta Cana is home to sprawling luxurious beach resorts that are perfect for a sunny three-day weekend or even a week-long all-inclusive resort gay vacation for friends or lovebirds.  The airline is also adding once-weekly flights between Boston and Punta Cana with one-stop connections over New York every day of the week. 

Punta Cana resorts offer gay travelers a great place to relax and get some sun.  There isn’t anything in the way of gay bars and clubs around Punta Cana, and it is mostly a destination where you will probably spend most of your time at your resort, but most resorts offer a fabulous array of amenities including amazing pools, spas and beautiful rooms with great ocean views. 

So, although Punta Cana is not a true ‘gay’ destination, it can be a super place for you and your friends or lover to get away from the grind of it all.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, today unveiled a new live television line-up on its in-flight entertainment platform – Red™.  As of today, guests on every Virgin America flight will be able to use the Red touch-screen at their seatback to choose from a larger library of in-flight television choices – including more live sports, news and popular programming, as well as exclusive new cached content like Virgin America’s “Best of the Web” section – which features popular web-based programming.

“As a new airline that wants to re-think the typical domestic flying experience for the better, we’re constantly asking our guests to provide feedback on what’s working, what’s not and what we can do better,” said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing for Virgin America.  ”Red’s robust in-flight entertainment platform allows us the opportunity to continually improve content options based on what our flyers actually want.  Our tech-forward flyers love the unique web-based content we offer and we also heard loud and clear that access to more live sports programming was key.  We’re also pleased to add The CW, which will premiere Fly Girls, a docu-series following the lives of five Virgin America in-flight teammates in 2010.” 

Although Virgin America continually analyzes guest feedback via the Suggestion box on every Red platform and its social media channels, earlier in 2009 the airline asked its Elevate™ frequent flyers for their input on the in-flight television line-up and film library.  The new line-up reflects that feedback with an eclectic mix of content – from popular sports and a “Best of the Web” section, to more Hollywood blockbusters and indie classics in the onboard film library.  With innovative features like fleetwide in-flight WiFi, standard power outlets at every seat and next generation in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has quickly become the airline of choice for tech-savvy travelers.  A fall 2009 survey of the airline’s Elevate frequent flyers showed that over half of its guests carry a laptop and stay plugged in while they travel.  Virgin America recently added additional flights to meet demand for flyers en route to this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The Red platform offers the largest entertainment library in the domestic skies.  In addition to a live satellite television line-up via DISH Network, cached television channels and a 25+ film library at every seat, Red offers videogames, music videos, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, Google Maps, seat-to-seat chat, a first-of-its-kind on-demand food menu and more.  In August 2009, Virgin America enabled software upgrades to the Linux-based Red that allowed for more content and even greater functionality and speed.  In October 2009, Virgin America won the World Airline Entertainment Association’s (WAEA) Avion Award for best in-flight entertainment system.

New live television channels on Red now include: The CW (KTLA-TV), E!, Bravo, CBS (WCBS-TV), TNT and WGN America.  As the first domestic airline to offer innovative, tech-savvy in-flight amenities and fleetwide WiFi, Virgin America’s new “Best of the Web” platform appropriately features wildly popular web-based programming like Ted Talks, Revision3 and Campus MovieFest.  The full list of live satellite television channels now available on Red includes: 

BRAVO;  CBS (WCBS-TV/New York);  CNBC;  CNN;  Comedy Central;  The CW (KTLA-TV/Los Angeles);  CURRENT TV;  DISNEY;  E!;  ESPN;  ESPN2;  ESPN Classic;  ESPN News;  FOX;  FX;  MSNBC;  MTV;  NICKELODEON;  Syfy;  TNT;  USA;  WGN America

Cached or static television channels on Red include:  Current TV, Fox Cable, Boing Boing, Syfy and Disney.

Virgin America offers travelers low fares and high-tech features, including standard power outlets near every seat, Gogo® In-flight Internet on every flight and the Red platform, which offers touch-screen and remote control interactivity and a wealth of content and options, including:

• “Watch”: 24 channels of live satellite TV and cached specialty channels, 25+ on-demand films, premium TV like HBO and an on-demand music video library;
• “Eat”: A first-of-its-kind on-demand menu system that allows guests to order what they want, when they want it during a flight;
• “Play”: A variety of videogames, including cult favorites like DOOM, navigated by a Qwerty keyboard handset at every seat;
• “Talk”: A seat-to-seat chat feature inside the aircraft, so guests can chat with someone in a nearby seat;
• “Journey”: Interactive Google Maps that zoom at 8 levels and track the aircraft in-flight;
• “Shop”: An on-demand shopping section;
• “Listen”: A 3,000 MP3 library and platform to create playlists in-flight.

 Launched in August 2007, Virgin America has won a growing list of reader-based travel industry awards, including top honors as “Best Domestic Airline” in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards.  In October 2009, the airline won the World Airline Entertainment Association’s (WAEA) Avion award for best in-flight entertainment.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County and Fort Lauderdale. The airline currently offers daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, SFO to SNA and LAX to FLL and SFO to FLL.

For more details and information on the new Red entertainment lineup, please visit http://www.virginamerica.com/va/vaDifference.do

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing start-up U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1500 people.  Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel.  The airline’s base of operations is San Francisco International Airport’s modern International Terminal.  The airline’s new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems, power outlets near every seat and fleetwide in-flight internet.  The airline was named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 and 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards and in Travel + Leisure’s 2008 and 2009 World’s Best Awards.  For more please visit: www.virginamerica.com

Continental Airlines launched new flights today to the South Pacific Island of Fiji, a vacation paradise for any traveler, including the gay and lesbian vacationer.  The new Continental flights connect their Pacific hub of Guam with Nadi, Fiji twice weekly offering convenient connections from the west coast of the US.  The new flights will be offered on Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. 

Continental isn’t the only way to get to Fiji, but it is another convenient route to access the remote island.  Fiji is not the most liberal of the Pacific Islands, but there is a level of tolerance and relaxed acceptance that would allow for a wonderful gay vacation.  Take a look around – there are some gay-friendly accommodations that may fit your budget.  The island also is home to great beaches, fabulous restaurants and even a gay bar or two. 

So, get ready for a vacation of a lifetime and check out how Fiji can make your romantic South Pacific dreams come true!

Celebrated music legend signs two-year deal with Paris Las Vegas and AEG Live

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow is making music and magic at Paris Las Vegas with a new resident show. On March 5, 2010 Manilow will throw open the doors to the Paris Theatre at Paris Las Vegas with a reimagined stage show that will be both more intimate and more exciting than ever before.

Manilow will perform 78 shows each year for two years at Paris Las Vegas.  The shows are produced by AEG Live in conjunction with Paris Las Vegas.  Tickets for performances March 5 through July 18, 2010 are on-sale today at 9 a.m. EST.

Directed by renowned stage and film choreographer and director Jeffrey Hornaday (Flashdance, A Chorus Line, High School Musical), this new show will cast Manilow’s hits in a new light in the intimate and elegant 1,500 seat Paris Theatre.  Including all the songs that have made him a pop culture icon over the past 35 years, the show will bring the energy, sincerity and melody of Manilow at his best to a spectacular yet personal crescendo.

“The audience in Vegas is always energized and electric, so I know that the Paris Las Vegas is going to be a special run,” said Manilow.  ”I’m planning something new for this performance; definitely not to be missed.”

With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records); with no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits to his credit between 1975 and 1983, on the Billboard Hot 100. Manilow has worked on over 40 albums over the course of his career as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer.  He recently released “In the Swing of Christmas” his third collection of holiday songs and will release “The Greatest Love Songs of All Time,” a new album chronicling the most touching love songs ever written on Jan. 26, 2010.

“Barry Manilow is an icon to generations of adoring fans,” said John Meglen, co-CEO and President of AEG Live/Concerts West. “AEG Live is privileged to be working with him to bring this new and exciting musical production to the stage in Las Vegas.”

“At Paris Las Vegas, romance blends with excitement and energy, so it’s only fitting that Barry Manilow reignite our entertainment offerings,” said Marilyn Winn, President of Paris Las Vegas. “We invite all of our guests to spend a dynamic evening with Barry Manilow at Paris Las Vegas.”

Las Vegas middle school and high school music programs will benefit from Manilow’s new contract with Paris by sharing in the proceeds of the special, weekly Platinum Experience Tickets.  Platinum Experience Tickets which include a front row seat, pre-show champagne reception, meet & greet and photo with Barry Manilow, and an autographed show program are available now at www.ManilowParis.com or at 310.957.5788.  Proceeds from Platinum Experience Tickets go directly to the Manilow Music Project.  The Manilow Music Project is part of Manilow’s non-profit, The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope and will put instruments into the hands of middle school and high school students in the Las Vegas Unified School District.

Tickets go on-sale today at 9 a.m. EST and are available on-line at Ticketmaster.com, in person at the Paris Theatre box office, or by calling 1.800.745.3000.  Ticket prices are $250, $175, $125, and $95.  Visit www.parislasvegas.com for room and ticket packages.  For more information on Barry Manilow at Paris Las Vegas visit www.ManilowParis.com .

The Gold Coast in Australia says they are gay-welcoming

Rainbow Tourism International, a leading gay tourism marketing company based in Sydney, Australia, and Gold Coast Tourism in Queensland are promoting the positive aspects of Australia’s favorite holiday destination to the gay and lesbian travel market worldwide.

Their planned social media and digital marketing campaign for the Gold Coast in Australia began on December 1 as an initiative to spread the message that hotels in the region are gay welcoming. Rainbow Tourism will launch promotions on social media channels and do direct marketing to international and domestic gay travel agents, travel planners and gay travellers themselves.

“Gold Coast Tourism has a savvy plan to attract more gay and lesbian travellers to the region to experience its diverse attractions, events and gay-welcoming businesses. Rainbow Tourism is helping them increase the destination’s image and appeal as a more attractive gay travel destination,” says Mark Proffit, Rainbow’s online marketing director.

“Gold Coast Tourism is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and is the fourth destination in the world to embrace the Gay Comfort hospitality training program for its members,” says Dee Farrell, marketing manager for Rainbow Tourism.

The Gay Comfort training program is a pioneering effort to help hotels and their employees around the globe effectively provide top-notch customer service to their gay and lesbian customers.

Well, we are very glad the boys made it to the final three.  Great job, Sam & Dan.  They leave Prague and fly to Las Vegas arriving back in the United States for the first time since the first day of the trip around the world.  Dan says as they start out that they need to do two things to win – beat the team ahead of them and not yell at each other.  Good plan Dan, let’s hope you guys can keep it up. 

We get to see Sam with his glasses on at the airport – he looks cute in the glasses.  All three teams get on the same flight on British Airways to Vegas meaning they all are essentially starting out on an even playing field so any of the teams can win.  They head out in taxis to the Graceland Wedding Chapel. 

They all get to the wedding chapel at the same time and get their clues while interrupting a wedding in process.  Dan joins in with Elvis singing ‘Amazing Grace’.  They get a clue to head out to Mandalay Bay again with all teams in pretty much even placing.  But, the boys arrive at Mandalay Bay in third place – not good.  They have to rappelle down the side of a 20 story building.  Let’s hope one of the boys isn’t afraid of heights. 

Sam does the rappelling. He seems a little afraid but does a great job getting down the building faster than the other two, but they are still in third place.  They kind of lost their momentum by getting an old, slower taxi driver.  They should have picked better on that one….but sometimes you just have to take what you get. 

They now head to the Mirage hotel for their next clue.  Here they have to join the cast of the Cirque du Soliel show LOVE which is to the Beattles music.  They have to launch their partner on a bungee chord to reach a bouquet of flowers.  Sam does the throwing and Dan is in the harness – complaining a little bit about the harness hurting his privates.  The boys move into second place doing another stellar job on this task.

They now head to the Monte Carlo casino.  Although the boys have a tough time trying to figure out what is the most famous casino in the country of Monaco – although they pronounce it incorrectly.  They figure out it’s the Monte Carlo first – moving them into first place as the team that has led most of the race heads to the wrong casino. 

Here, they have to count a million dollars worth of poker chips.  They head to a table with 8,400 chips and count out exactly 1 million dollars.  They get a little flustered with each other again, but Sam calms Dan down and takes over the piling of the chips.  Dan, you need to calm down.  You get a little to over excited.  They are wrong on their first count and have to do a recount.  The boys are in second place after they get their count right the second time around.

After this, they have to head to see Wayne Newton at the MGM Grand Hotel.  Here, Wayne Newton tells them that the finish line is at ‘His House’.  But the funny thing is they see Wayne Newton, and don’t know what his name is.  A little embarassing.  They then head out to Wayne Newton’s home and are in a close second place.  If they get their first they will win, but it isn’t looking food for them. 

In the end, the brothers come in second place but did an absoutely fabulous job!  Congrats to Sam and Dan McMillen, you guys did an amazing job.  Also, congrats to Shane and Meghan on winning the million dollars!

Sam & Dan McMillen Amazing Race Team

The boys leave Prague on their next leg of the race in second place.  They head across town to the Spanish Synagogue and from there to the Ecoteknik Museum.  At the museum, they get their first roadblock.  

Here they enter a warehouse filled with empty desks and old telephones, listening for the letters to fill in the name FRANZ.  The boys convince their cab to not take team one away from the first roadblock as they head inside.  Dan does the roadblock and tries to keep his concentration and composure while searching through the hundreds of phones.   Dan can not figure out the word FRANZ from the letters he has and continues to give the guy words that don’t make sense.  Come on, Dan, there aren’t that many options!  It shouldn’t take as long as it did.  Think about it.  It took so long the Globetrotters caught up to them.  And then, he agrees to work with the Globetrotters, but then just tells him it starts with an ‘F’ and pisses off yet another team.

From here they head to the Kryocentrum – where they have to endure a holistic treatment of staying in a room that is 180 degrees Celsius below zero for two minutes.  The boys strip down to tight little shorts and get cold together -= how cute!   They do fine and last the two minutes and then get on a treadmill to work their body heat back up to normal.   Then they move on to the next challenge still in a safe second place. 

After the cold, they head to Charles Bridge to either build a Gollum, an ancient figure made of clay and straw or carry thirty beers across town and deliver them to a crowd of soccer fans.  The boys decide to build a Gollum and they get started and dirty with their clay and straw.  Immediately, they start messing up as their Gollum falls and an arm breaks off.  But, they continue to build that Gollum not thinking that by doing so they might have to start all over again.  As they carry the Gollum they start yelling at each other with one wanting to find the Synagogue first, and Sam being resistant.  They continue to yell and scream at each other way over the top until they finally finish the task.

They then head off to Strelecky Ostrov near the Charles Bridge to check in and find out if they are in the final three.  And yes, they are in the final three episode and will start out in second place.  The Globetrotters fall behind and fail to make it to the final three because they can’t unscramble the work FRANZ.

Sam & Dan McMillen on Amazing Race

The boys started out in Tallin, Estonia in second place, with the Globetrotter idiots just a few steps behind them.  All the teams have to fly from Tallin to Prague.  When they get the clue Dan asks ‘Do they speak Spanish there?’ to which Sam replied ‘Prague?  It’s a country.’  Wow, these guys need some geography lessons. 

When the teams arrive in Prague, everybody hops in cabs and heads off to downtown Prague to find a Praga – or an old car.  The boys are in second place and follow team one to get their next clue. 

Dan & Sam McMillen - gay brothers on Amazing Race

The next clue takes them to an outdoor adventure sports center.  As they head off, Sam goes on and on, and Dan complains about him narrating everything.  But hey, Sam just likes to express himself verbally – I think many of us can truly relate to that.

The boys arrive first at the sports center.  They have to choose between rapid kayaking or pull themselves along a ropes course.  The boys choose to do the fast course – the kayaking and once again strip down to their undies to get heir wet suits on.  They are cute but the other two teams there take the slow, but easier course.  As they start out Dan yells at Sam to ‘Don’t be a Bitch’. 

Sam & Dan tip over the kayak and have to head back for a second try only to tip the kayak again.  They continue to yell at each other neither being very patient with the other.  Maybe if you boys stop screaming at each other and work together, you would do a bit better. 

Well, the third time is not the charm, and the boys end up having to switch their detour.  They now do the ropes course and do a little better than the kayaks.  But Dan still yells at Sam to go faster.  Poor Sam.  Finally, they get through this very challenging detour.  But they are almost in last place as they head to the next stop.  But as they prepare to leave the sports center, they boys try to steal the taxi from the team right behind them.  The taxi driver agrees, and takes the boys to their next stop.   

The boys now happily depart the sports center, and head off to a theatre auditorium in Prague.  Here, they have to locate a miniature instrument to play with an opera singer.  Dan is the one to head off on the scavenger hunt even though Sam talks about his experience doing one year as a vocal performance major.   This is Sam & Dan’s chance to move back into second place if they find their little violin before the Globetrotters.   And Dan gets it first, so now they can leave in second place.  From here they head off to Prague Castle for the next Pit Stop for this leg of the race.  The boys end up at Prague Castle in second place and make it to the next leg of the last leg of the race. 

This was not an elimination round, so the last episode will start with four teams battling it out for the million dollars.  I sure am rooting for Sam & Dan!

Virgin America and JetBlue launch trans-continental flights to Ft. Lauderdale

In the last two days, both Virgin America and JetBlue have launched new flights between the West Coast and the gay destination of Ft. Lauderdale. 

Virgin America today launched two daily flights between their home city of San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale and two daily flights also from Los Angeles.  Ft. Lauderdale is the 10th city served by Virgin America – partly owned but much inspired by Sir Richard Branson who owns Virgin Atlantic. 

Virgin America is a high service, low-fare airline that focuses on providing customers with a positive flight experience.  Virgin American offers innovative amenities like touch screen entertainment and power outlets at every seat, and inflight wireless internet service.  The airline operates one of the youngest all-Airbus jet fleets with planes that feature mood lighting, video games, on-demand drink and snack menu, and available first-class seating.

JetBlue, responding to the Virgin America flights, also launched daily service between San Francisco and Ft. Lauderdale.  JetBlue also is a low-fare, high service airline offering many of the amenities that Virgin America offers.  Unlike Virgin America, JetBlue is headquartered in New York with a focus city in Ft. Lauderdale. 

For gay or lesbian travelers looking to either enjoy the fabulous shopping and sights and nightlife in San Francisco or head to the beach and the relaxed atomosphere in gay-friendly Ft. Lauderdale, both Virgin America and JetBlue offer convenient and affordable flights and fares to make that trip even closer than you might have thought. 

Check out schedules and fares for Virgin America at www.virginamerica.com and for JetBlue at www.jetblue.com.

Sam & Dan travel from Sweden to Estonia and have a great race!

This leg of the race finds the teams rested in Stockholm, Sweden and heading on a ferry to Tallin, Estonia.  As the boys head out, best buds again, Sam is wearing the cutest glasses which we have not seen on him yet.  All teams have to wait for the ferry putting all teams at the same time when they arrive in Tallin.  The Globetrotters are not happy that the boys are there with them – they see them as their biggest threat and are no longer leading. 

They all arrive in Tallin, Estonia and head to the taxi stand.  The boys beg their driver to hurry and pass the other cars.  The boys do well and arrive in a close second place.  They have to use their keys to open the door and the first two teams get in first.  They arrive at the Brotherhood of the Blackheads.  They have to find a door in this huge castle like place with a specific number on it.  Sam does this challenge and heads out looking for his door. 

Sam finally finds his room and eventually sees the hidden message on the scroll and they head out to Pikk Herman Tower Gardens in next to last place.   They lose a little ground and head out in third place with the Globetrotters just behind them. 

They now head to one of the many bogs in Estonia where they have to either play volleyball in speedos or use sling shots to shoot veggies.  I was desperately hoping the boys would choose the volleyball, as I am sure were many girls and gay guys watching the show.   They do choose the volleyball.  But they get in a little tiff with the Globetrotters again as the Globetrotters try to steal their taxi cab. 

The boys strip down – although Sam doesn’t go to his undies.  Not sure why.  But anyway, they comment on the ‘hottie Estonians’ that they have to play in volleyball.  I will say the boys need to get some sexy undies.  Maybe I will send them a pair or two.  Interestingly, the show has each of their private parts shaded out.  Hmmmmm….let’s the imagination run wild!

The boys are playing their volleyball right alongside the Globetrotters.  Dan is the better volleyball player of the two brothers, but that’s okay.  We can’t all be good at everything.  The Globetrotters head out the wrong way even though they won their game first.  The Globetrotters are complete idiots and blame the boys for one of them falling when they were running.  Basically, the Globetrotters are big babies and can’t stand coming in behind the gay boys.  Whatever, Sam & Dan take the high road even though the Globetrotters throw around their little stupid threats.

In the end, Sam & Dan come in second place with the Globetrotters in a very unhappy third place.  Thank goodness the boys beat the Globetrotters!