Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Fri, Mar 20 1992 Date: Fri, 20 Mar 92 05:44:41 EST Message-ID: 03-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update March 20-22, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network `TIDES' ISLAND ALLURING, QUIET: Fripp Island, S.C., seen in "The Prince of Tides," features the locale most alluring to vacationers of all the films up for the Oscars March 30. It's "off the beaten path, and quiet," says Stuart Mitchell of the Fripp Company, which rents property on the 3,000-acre island east of Beaufort. "It's not so much a resort but a retreat, a place to get away." (For more, see special Fripp package below.) UNITED WINS SLOTS: United Airlines beat American Airlines, winning a bid to lease 16 takeoff and landing slots from TWA at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, the USA's busiest airport. A bankruptcy court, overseeing TWA's Chapter 11 case, approved the deal Thursday. United bid $66,000 a month for each of the slots, giving TWA $12.7 million a year. American bid just $23,300 for the slots. AIRLINES DISCUSS ALLIANCE: American Airlines says it is discussing a possible alliance with PWA, the parent of Canadian Airlines International. American says the talks involve joint marketing programs and reciprocal services but would not elaborate further until they finish talks. CARD IDEA MAY BE FADING: The affinity credit card may be fading. According to Frequent Flyer, Ramada has dropped its card and neither Marriott or USAir affinity credit cards are accepting new cardholders. The Marriott affinity Visa is administered by First Card, which also administers the United Mileage Plus affinity card. First Card has been giving a bonus to Mileage Plus members for signing up. ENROLLMENT BONUS OFFERED: Regular fliers on international flights should spread the word. Through May 31, United fliers who recommend a friend, business associate or such to enroll in Mileage Plus and they complete just one paid United international roundtrip before May 31, they will earn a 5,000-mile bonus up to 20,000 miles, says Frequent Flyer. It's a limited member offer, so check for qualifications. TRAFFIC CENTER UNDER DISPUTE: The Federal Aviation Administration would have to relocate its air traffic center from Diamond Head crater in Hawaii within eight years under a bill winging its way through the state Senate. The state wants to return the area to use as a park. The FAA, which refused to meet with the Senate committee, says it plans to expand the facility. COSTNER CENTER MAY STALL: The South Dakota Legislature's failure to raise the betting maximum to $100 from $5 may hurt a plan with his actor-brother Kevin Costner to build a $30 million to $50 million convention center, according to gaming developer Dan Costner. The plan passed the Senate but stalled in the House. AIRCRAFT POOL COULD CLOSE: Iowa's aircraft pool will be shut down under a proposal the state Senate has approved 46-2. The sale of three planes would raise about $670,000. Also, the $278,000 the state spends each year to maintain aircraft and pay three pilots and a mechanic would be used for charter or commercial airfare for employees. The proposal now goes to the state House. OLD THEATERS GLAMOROUS: For those who think a night out should mean high glamour, some movie houses bring back the days of elegance. But many still-glitzy houses have retired their screens in favor of the performing arts. In Shreveport, La., the Strand Theater has neo-Baroque architecture. The Capitol Theater in Yakima, Wash., also is neo-Baroque with its ceiling mural. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON FRIPP: SOLITUDE THE MAIN DRAW: There are no flashy hotels on quiet Fripp Island, S.C. Just seafront rental homes, spaced by sandy dunes where palmettos and sea oats battle for a foothold. Golf and shrimp are king, with sunning, tennis and sport fishing not far behind. Solitude is the main draw. Only renters can pass the guard gate at the lone bridge to the island. Beaches and nature trails stay sparsely populated. DEVELOPMENT IS CONTROLLED: Fripp is getting hot, no question. Rentals actually went up during the recession. But development is under strict control, unlike sprawling Hilton Head, S.C., 15 miles to the south. During the making of "The Prince of Tides," Barbra Streisand headed to Plums for ice cream and Nick Nolte haunted Steamer, across the bay, for Southern seafood. Also good: Gay's, on U.S. 21 west of Fripp. TRY A CARRIAGE RIDE: Relax by chartering a boat ($225 for a half day) and try net casting for shrimp, bottom-fishing for flounder - or head for deep seas. Once relaxed and ready for an excursion, head to historic Beaufort, 20 miles west of Fripp along the intracoastal waterways. Ride back in time in a horse-drawn carriage ($8.50) to the grand antebellum mansions that Southern gentlemen built as summer homes. (End of package.) 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM