Ok, DS is 22, and works for us..and works alot. He spends the whole weekend from Friday at 4 until SundaHey night down at the office dispatching, and works every night except Thursday from 4-midnight. He ha.s had a bunch of bad luck this year w/ cars, and medical stuff. Long story short...I'm feeling he is a bit down...burndt out..that sort of thing, and had the brainstorm after not knowing what on earth to get him for Christmas..that I would like to book an inexpensive long weekend getaway for him and a friend of his choice. I went on Travelocity and found a pretty good package for New Orleans...(we live in NY) and it was under 900 dollars for the dates I was playing w/ which was Jan 17-21, for flight and hotel. A few people at work thought he'd have fun, plus it would give me a couple of weeks to get together a bit of spending money as the other part of his gift for when he would leave.

Question...does anyone know if it's possible to book it with his name and not name the other person, because I don't know if he'd choose to bring a friend, or his on again/off again girlfriend...and if anyone has been successful booking a package like this through travelocity? Someone told me I'd get a better package at a local travel agent? Thanks for any help. The hotel was rated 4 stars..and was within walking distance of Riverfront..and "nightlife". Just wanted him to go kind of relax for a few days.

__________________
Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

You need the name of both people if you are making plane reservations through Travelocity. Just an FYI - it is nearly impossible to change plans through Travelocity.

My son's father made reservations and paid (through travelocity) for my son to fly to Hawaii, this summer, but my son could not get off work. They tried to get the money back - no go - They tried to have the name changed on the ticket so one of my daughter's friends could go - no go. Travelocity was really unhelpful and rude. In short - out $630.

Read all the fine print before you make and pay for a reservation.

Did you look at vacation packages through airlines - almost all airlines have packages with flight and hotel and if you need to change anything you can (there is usually a fee, but you can make changes)

__________________
Mary

It might be easier for you to book the hotel in your son's name, and then purchase a gift certificate for the airline offering the flights you want. Unfortunately, if you wait to book flights, pricing can change, but this allows your son to book whomever he wants to go along.

I'd also be leary of Travelocity for a gift. No flexibility once you make a reservation.

HTH.

Great, thanks for heads up about them. I'll go look at some airlines. I'll keep ya posted.

__________________
Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

Thanks to you guys..I've decided to get a gift certificate in a fixed amount for the airline tixs for Jet Blue (never knew you could buy gift cards for air travel) and will do some research hotels in the area as well before doing this. It seems I can even get Jet Blue gift cards at my local supermarket A&P. WHO KNEW? LOL. I'm gonna check there to make sure on my way to work today. I'll also call the hotels I had seen and see if I can get some pamphlets or info to print out, so it will seem like "trip in a gift" and will help DS put it all together after Christmas when travel dates and travel partners have been settled on. I just wanted to kind of have the destination picked out for him, although he might change that too, but that's ok. At least he'll have the money towards the airfare and it will force him to follow through for the needed getaway. You guys are sooo helpful

Every year I like to get someone the gift they'd never expect...last year was DS #2 when we got him a used car for christmas and blew him away. This year is DS#1's turn. We'll see if DD will get her turn. Two years ago a shocked DSister with tixs to a show in Radio City and a day out with me, that she just loved....and she was soooo surprised. I love to surprise people. A few years ago, I managed tickets for Bruce Springsteen for our anniversary. Put the tics in the card, but made him open a little box first, with two lighters...next box was some wine coolers and a six pack of beer (for the parking lot LOL) and last was the tickets that were for that night, and he was SOOOOO suprised and it ended up raining, but being the BEST concert of bruce that we'd ever seen.

I love to do this.

__________________
Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

That sounds really great, Eileen! Who knows, maybe he'll choose New Orleans for Mardi Gras.....put some beads in that box along with the pamphlets.

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

your son sounds really great Eileen! What a nice way to show him that not only is his hard work paying off, but that you guys notice and appreciate it. Awesome.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus