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Issue Date: December 14, 2003
Travel Briefs
"Size-friendly" resort
Extra-large chairs greet vacationers at Freedom Paradise.
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When Freedom Paradise, a beachfront hotel on Mexico's "Mayan Riviera," debuted last June, the property ushered in a new resort designation: "size friendly." Seventy miles south of Cancun, Freedom Paradise caters to guests of all girths by coupling a friendly atmosphere with sturdy furnishings.
Employees, trained by a psychologist to lose any bias, watch "Beauty and the Beast" as a reminder that inner beauty is what counts. Physical barriers fade, too: The dining rooms feature benches or extra-large chairs, the pool has wide concrete steps, and doorways are extra wide.
Size-friendly accommodations make business sense as Americans continue to super-size. Happy guests can take home the resort's motto -- "Live Large, Live Free" -- emblazoned on T-shirts available in sizes up to 5XL.
Cut-rate carriers soar
High-priced airline tickets may become just a painful memory. If so, credit the expansion of low-cost airlines.
America West, Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest, among others, are taking a bite out of the market share of the "Big Six" (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways). With low-cost airlines featuring friendlier fares, expanded routes and livable change fees (often $25 or $50), it's no wonder their business is booming.
Some major carriers have cut prices on routes served by the pay-less lines, and Delta and United have started their own low-cost sudsidiaries, Song and Ted, respectively. Others may do the same or restructure their fares to compete. Either way, look for low fares to keep taking off.
-- Candyce Stapen
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