Orlando resort offers introductory family rate

A new condo-hotel in Orlando, Fla., Premier Resorts' The Point Orlando (www.thepoint-orlando.com or (866) 956-2015), recently opened and is offering an introductory family package that will save 20 percent on families of two or more traveling together.

The Orlando family package includes a one-bedroom suite, with a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living/dining area, a king bed in the bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen with full-size appliances and washer/dryer, free high-speed Internet and a continental breakfast daily. Rates start at $129 per suite per night and are valid through May 31.

The brand new Point Orlando Resort is 1½ miles from the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, less than two miles from Universal Orlando Resort, Wet 'n Wild, SeaWorld Orlando and just minutes from Walt Disney World. Other amenities of the resort include an outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, business center and a three-story clubhouse.

See pandas, make kites in China

Pacific Delight Tours is offering four June and July departures of its Giant Panda & Yangtze River Escapade program, which is suited for families and features hands-on activities in unusual and lesser-known destinations.

The 15-day package includes a visit to the best place to see China's most endearing residents, the giant panda -- at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding; kite-making classes; home-style dinners with a local family; an excursion to the newly discovered 2,000-year-old tomb of Han Jing Di in Xi'an; and a one-night cruise on the Yangtze River.

Fares range from $3,588 to $3,808 per person, double occupancy, with early booking savings of $100 per couple if booked with a deposit by Feb. 21. Five-day pre- and four-day post-tours to Hong Kong, with accommodations at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hotel and an island tour, are $788 to $1,228 per person, double. Government-imposed taxes and fees, including the Sept. 11 Security Fee of up to $155, are additional. Prices are subject to change.

The tour includes trans-Pacific flights from West Coast cities, pre-confirmed accommodations, all Asia air/land transportation, most meals, sightseeing and shore excursions, tour escort, transfers, fuel surcharges, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling. Land-only prices and single supplements are available, as are add-on fares from dozens of North American gateways. Travelers receive $100,000 flight insurance and frequent-flier credit when Pacific Delight tickets the air-inclusive tours.

Reservations, brochures and information can be obtained from travel agents or Pacific Delight Tours at www.PacificDelightTours.com or by calling (800) 221-7179.

Cooperstown goes to bat in Boston

If you don't feel like going to Cooperstown, N.Y., to check out the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, you can see part of it in Boston this summer, when the Baseball as America exhibition makes a 10-week stay at the Museum of Science Boston, beginning June 15.

The exhibition includes about 500 of the museum's most precious artifacts, dating from baseball's early roots in the 19th century to today, ranging from uniforms, balls, bats and gloves to books, recordings, artworks, films, historic documents, advertising and ephemera.

Among the highlights of the exhibition are the game's most sacred relic, the Doubleday Ball, from baseball's mythic first game in 1839; Jackie Robinson's 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers jersey; a variety of artifacts from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; record-setting bats from the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run chase of 1998, as well as those of Babe Ruth (home run No. 60 in 1927) and Roger Maris (home run No. 61 in 1961); FDR's January 15, 1942, "Green Light" letter calling for the continuation of professional baseball as a way to heighten morale during World War II; Norman Rockwell's 1949 painting "The Three Umpires"; the "Wonder Boy" bat from the movie "The Natural"; a 1908 Thomas Edison recording of "Casey at the Bat"; "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's shoes; and the most valuable baseball card in the world, the T206 Honus Wagner.

This exhibition will be in Philadelphia's National Constitution Center Feb. 15 through May 11 before heading over to Boston.

More information about this touring exhibition (which visited Chicago's Field Museum back in 2003) is available at www.baseballasamerica.org.

Experience India the Wildland way

Wildland Adventures, known for its eco-tours and named one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" in the November 2007 issue of National Geographic Adventure, is introducing an ancient destination, India, in a new way.

The Northern India 11-day Tigers & Palaces itinerary covers a large section of the area's history, culture and peoples. Participants will explore New Delhi; the architectural masterpieces of the Taj Mahal and Fatipru Sikri at Agra; wildlife at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary; and the Howa Mahal, Janta Manta, Palace Museum and Amber Palace in Jaipur. There is an optional elephant ride up to Amber Fort. The grand finale is two tiger safaris in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Wildland adds its touch by including an evening meal in the home of one of the park's tiger guides.

Travel can be extended by adding one or more optional five-day extensions to Khujuraho and Varanasi or to Udaipur.

This land-only tour ranges from $3,095 per person for a group of six to $3,695 per person for a group of two, depending on your choice of accommodations, and is fully escorted throughout by local guides and includes airport transfers; accommodations as noted; private vehicle with English-speaking driver and guide; first class A/C trains; all entrance fees to sites for touring as noted; meals; services of inbound local ground operators; and pre-departure services of Wildland Adventures.

For reservations or more information, visit www.wildland.com or call (800) 345-4453.

Get two-for-one deals in Alaska

Those planning a trip to Alaska should check out the 2008 edition of the Great Alaskan TourSaver, which offers more than 140 two-for-one offers with more than $22,000 in savings. Using just one or two coupons will save travelers much more than the cost of the book, which is $99.95, and includes free shipping in the U.S.

Among the two-for-one discounts: Summit McKinley flightseeing; Kenai Fjords Cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park; Alaska Rail Tours; and charter salmon fishing in Kodiak. The coupon also offers second-night-free stays at Kennicott Glacier Lodge in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Dimond Center Hotel in Anchorage, historic Van Gilder Hotel in Seward, accommodations at Denali National Park and more.

You can order the Great Alaskan TourSaver online at www.toursaver.com or by calling (907) 278-7600.

Earn double Delta Miles with Shutterfly

Members of Shutterfly (an online service for users to print and share their digital photos) and Delta Airlines' SkyMiles can earn 20 miles for every dollar spent between now and March 31.

This offer is valid for both current and new Shutterfly members. To sign up, visit www.shutterfly.com/secure/sign_up_delta20.jsp.

Reach George Hobica athobica@gmail.com, Kim LiangTan at KimLiangTan@aol.comor log on to www.airfarewatchdog.com.