Selected by jenleo

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  LA Times Travel

• San Francisco Bay Area: Cavallo Point achieves LEED Gold certification

  Susan Derby

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am

  Since making a grand entrance in July 2008, luxury hotel Cavallo Point, the 21st century’s first new national park lodge, has earned many awards and accolades in its still-short life. And now it can boast about its  LEED Gold. The resort at Fort Baker in Golden Gate National Recreation Area said last week it achieved [...]

• Climb aboard for Kimpton Hotels’ train-travel deal

  Susan Derby

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:58 am

  Forget taking a gas-guzzling road trip and hit the rails. If you’ve got the extra time, a train can provide fun and memorable transportation for your next vacation —plus, it can save you money on accommodations, thanks to Kimpton Hotels’ “Ride the Rails” promotion. Deal: Take 15% off of a participating hotel’s “best available” rate when [...]

• Five tips for finding hotel deals in 2010

  Jane Engle

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:14 pm

  Penny-pinching travelers got a great ride in 2009 — U.S. hotel rates last year fell nearly 9% on average. But fasten your seat belts: 2010 may be rougher going. Average room rates will continue to slide this year but only by about 2% as more travelers hit the road, predicts expert Scott Berman, U.S. [...]

• Solvang hotels: The more the merrier with free-room deal

  Susan Derby

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:57 am

  February may be traditionally a month to celebrate just the two of you, but here’s a deal that encourages you to invite the whole gang along on your next getaway. And the best part is that you don’t have to go very far to experience a taste of “Little Denmark”: The fun village of Solvang [...]

• Miami: Five budget-friendly hotels, post-Super Bowl

  Susan Derby

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:02 am

  If you’re not already in Miami for the Super Bowl, then all the buzz might just get you thinking about taking a trip there soon. Beaches, balmy evenings, hopping nightlife and superb Cuban food are just a few of the city’s lures. Despite the inflated price tags surrounding Super Bowl weekend, a stay in Miami, during [...]

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  USAToday Travel

• Airport scanners stir fears over security lines

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  The government's plan to install body scanners in dozens of airports could lengthen security lines and congest terminals, airline ...

• American Airlines to charge $8 for blankets, when available

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am

  Beginning May 1, coach passengers on many American Airlines flights will have to pay $8 for a blanket and inflatable neck pillow. ...

• The paradox of airline baggage fees: Higher charges, lower profits

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am

  Why are low-cost carriers like AirTran, Allegiant and Southwest reporting profits while their network competitors struggle?

• Cape May, N.J., targets Canadian tourists

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  While people coming from nearer places most often make a long weekend out of their trips, the Canadians tend to stay six to 10 ...

• Hotels' new-tech TVs have guests fuming

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:45 pm

  Hotel-room televisions' fuzzy or distorted pictures or images that freeze on the screen, as well as channel selection, frustrate ...

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  USATODAY.com - Today In the Sky

• It's official: JAL is sticking with American Airlines

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:48 am

  UPDATE (5:48 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 9): The Associated Press confirms that Japan Airlines has made a decision, and that it has opted to remain ...

• Airport Check-in: Fewer people worldwide took flights last year

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:40 am

  From USA TODAY's Airport Check-in column: Year-end aviation data are starting to trickle in, affirming 2009 as a year the industry would like ...

• Round II: Airlines ax hundreds of flights, waive change fees

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:32 am

  For the second time in a week, airlines have canceled hundreds of flights and waived change fees as a major winter takes aim at air traveler ...

• American Airlines to charge $8 for blankets

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:08 pm

  "If you want a pillow and blanket in coach on American Airlines, it's going to cost you." That's from The Associated Press, which reports AA ...

• Flights halted at W. Va. airport after aborted takeoff

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am

  UPDATE (3:05 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 8): As of 2:20 p.m. ET, the disabled aircraft has been removed and West Virginia's Charleston Yeager Airport ...

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  Gadling

• Stranded in Washington, DC? Get to The Jefferson

  Annie Scott

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Filed under: United States, Travel DealsThe Jefferson Hotel Washington, DC is offering some special deals for snowed-in travelers, so send this to your needy friends. The Winter Storm Special is taking place tonight and tomorrow night (February 9 & 10), and it features Deluxe rooms which usually go for $380 for just $195. This is a great opportunity to make lemonade out of your lemons and stay in a luxury Relais & Châteaux member hotel on the cheap. While the snow has shut down the operations of the hotel's main restaurant, Plume, the bar, Quill, is open. They serve comfort food…

• Second chance for swinger cruise

  Tom Johansmeyer

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Filed under: North America, Bahamas, United States, CruisesIt's not the waves that are rocking the boat. This year, YOLO Cruises is bringing back its swingers trip. Since you only live once (YOLO), the reasoning goes, you should get out on the water and work up a sweat. YOLO's last Swingers Cruise trip was a bit controversial, but that hasn't stopped the company from giving it another run. It's chartered a Carnival vessel for a three-night voyage to the Bahamas, which is set to depart Miami on October 29, 2010. Once you cross into international waters, there are no rules, aside from common…

• Free King Tut passes in San Francisco

  Amy Chen

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  Filed under: United States, Budget Travel, Travel DealsOn Feb. 21 and 22, the de Young Museum is giving away free passes to the King Tut exhibit in San Francisco. Tickets to "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" are normally pretty pricey. For a family of two adults and two kids between the ages of 6 and 17, you're looking at shelling out $98 on admission passes alone if you visit on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday (kids under 5 are free). Details: Tickets will only be handed out on site on either of those days. Sponsored by Target, the giveaway is limited to four tickets per adult.

• Travel-sized everything: 3floz.com

  Annie Scott

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Filed under: Gear3floz.com is a new website featuring the best of what comes in a TSA-approved size. The site is a collaboration between two travelers with 11 years of experience in the beauty industry, Kate Duff and Alexi Mintz. They used to travel together, and Kate would check a bag with all her beauty products, whereas Alexi would carry her bags on -- and then have to borrow Kate's stuff. This wasn't an ideal situation, and the two spent hours scouring beauty websites looking for 3oz versions of their favorite products. They didn't exist. And so, 3floz.com was born, with a brand list…

• Lunar New Year souvenirs

  Amy Chen

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am

  Filed under: United StatesLunar New Year falls on Valentine's Day this year. While hunting for souvenirs in Seattle's Chinatown last month, I spotted these cute tote bags that feature the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac ($20). I caught up with the designer Joyce Wan at New York City's International Gift Fair last week to learn more about Wanart, her five-year-old collection of greeting cards, infant apparel, and canvas totes that are still screen-printed by hand. It turns out that Wanart's Zodiac Zoo line is not just a lucky Chinatown find, but is actually carried in several museum shops…

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  Jaunted

• Kohler: Get INTO the Cold: Kohler, Wisconsin

  Chanize

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  Trying to flee the freezing temperatures sweeping across the country is natural, but predictable. Instead, do what folks in these frigid destinations do—embrace it and get INTO the cold. The trick to staying toasty is chill-killing gear and lots of bone warming activity. So stop moping around waiting for summer to arrive and head to these five crazy cold places and get your winter wonderland on.Kohler, Wisconsin Cold Meter: Extreme A short hour drive from Milwaukee is Destination Kohler, home of the bath and kitchen product empire. Mother Nature has an icy disposition in this state come…

• Jackson: Find Love Up Above with Chairlift Speed Dating This Weekend

  cmb

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Do you feel like you've looked everywhere for your soul mate but haven't found them yet? Maybe you're just not looking in the right place. Forget bars, parties or the grocery store, why not try a ski lift? Black Mountain in Jackson, NH is hosting the 4th Annual Chairlift Speed Dating event this weekend. Registration for the event begins at 12:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 13 in the Lostbo Pub. Speed dating runs from 2 pm to 4 pm and is followed by music, drinks and contests. While you're looking for the mate of your dreams, you can also enjoy 'Love Potions' from the bar and a special aphrodisiac…

• Fly a MiG Over Moscow or a Fighter Jet Over LA Without a Pilot's License

  Jennifer Kester

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  If you watched Top Gun and longed to be hot-headed pilot Maverick, kicking ass in the skies, then get your jumpsuit ready. Incredible Adventures will not only set you up with a fighter jet, but the company will film your short escapade and you can help write a script. You get to choose whether you want to do rolls and loops in your L-39 over L.A. or San Diego, which cost $2,950, or Vegas, which is $4,950. It's the same plane that was used in Jarhead, a film that Incredible Adventures helped make. For some additional dough, you can add a paparazzo or an enemy cameo to your story.

• Dubai: Dubai's Trouble Deepens: Burj Khalifa Closes and QE2 Ship Up For Sale

  JetSetCD

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am

  Remember a couple years ago when all the cool news was coming out of Dubai, like they had all the money in the world and were using to build the adult playland of the future? Well, Dubai is still turning out all the news, but it's just that the headlines have gone sour, and this week has brought another rush of bad news for the showy Emirate. First, the newly opened 124-floor Observation Deck in the Burj Khalifa building has closed. The reason they're giving for the closure is that they've had far too many electrical problems, and with people paying $27 in advance or $109 on the spot for the…

• Beaches and Bikinis: Where Sports Illustrated Shot the Swimsuit Issue

  JetSetCD

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:25 am

  In case you haven't noticed (yeah right), there are pictures of hot women in bikinis plastered up all over the place; they're on billboards, payphone booths (where those still exist), in features on TV, and finally—on newsstands. It's all because the much-awaited 2010 Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is out and for sale, and this year, the scenery behind the girls is just as good as the view of tan lines. So what's the lucky tropical location? The Maldives! The SI team shot the magazine way back in August of last year, and although they gave out clues on Twitter, they stayed clear of…

• 
  THIS JUST IN (BUDGET TRAVEL)

• Finding the romantic side of Rome

  Katie Parla

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am

  It's not hard! Chocolate truffles, a leisurely hilltop stroll, and an intimate meal are key ingredients for Valentine's Day in Rome, the hometown of martyr San Valentino. Couples who work up an appetite browsing museums and archaeological sites—offering 2-for-1 admisson on Valentine's—can break for an afternoon treat of fine handmade chocolates. [+] Enlarge photoBoxes from La Bottega del Cioccolato make beautiful, tasty gifts (Katie Parla)La Bottega del Cioccolato does a lovely rich and bitter ultra-dark chocolate as well as legendary marrons glacés, chestnuts candied in syrup.

• New travel stress: Facebook oversharing

  Sean O'Neill

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:52 am

  Facebook is a super way to connect with friends and family, but it can sometimes be tough on relationships. The main issue for travel lovers? When one person in a couple lives their life online while their one doesn't. [+] Enlarge photo(Courtesy Anyaka/Flickr)For some, it's about safety. It may be deeply unnerving when your sweetheart posts on Facebook about upcoming vacations. A spouse might say, "I don't think it should be public knowledge about when we're out of town." Or, more sarcastically, "Why don't you post a giant sign advertising to robbers when is the best time to break in to our…

• Ask Trip Coach: Group gatherings

  Brad Tuttle

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:33 am

  (Illustration by Chris Gash)Most people love the idea of getting together with loads of family members and friends, especially if you're gathering in a fun location. But the more people you have, the harder it becomes to make everyone happy. How do you pick a destination that's convenient and in the price range of everyone invited? Who pays for what? Who decides who pays for what? How do you get organized, and keep everyone in the loop regarding decisions about food, activities, and accommodations? What are some ways to use your numbers to your advantage and get the best group discount? How…

• What happens when the Olympics move on?

  Kate Appleton

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:16 pm

  It was slightly eerie how they were playing the official Olympic theme songs, as well as playing fake sporting event noises from inside the Bird's Nest, wrote flickr user kalleboo, who posted this photo on January 18, 2010 (Courtesy kalleboo/Flickr) This Friday brings Vancouver's turn in the spotlight as the host of the Winter Olympics. But back in August 2008, all eyes were on Beijing for a dazzling opening ceremony that captured China's grand-scale ambitions—and that will be hard to top. We tracked the buildup to the Beijing games and published a slide show documenting the capital's…

• Hawaii: Answers to 5 common travel questions

  Sean O'Neill

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:17 am

  (Courtesy alohamorrison/myBudgetTravel)Upload your photos. We may feature them. Here's an interview with Rachel Klein, editor of Fodor's Hawaii 2010. Klein is also the Hawaii expert for Fodor's 80 degrees, a Web tool that lets you find a warm-weather escape best suited for your personality based on 20 criteria. 1. Which island should I go to? Oahu is sometimes referred to as "one stop Hawaii" because it offers visitors a sampling of experiences and activities that can be found on all the other islands. Those interested in history won't want to miss Pearl Harbor and the Bishop Museum. Maui is…

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  HotelChatter -

• Las Vegas: Inside The PH Towers By Westgate in Vegas

  juliana

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am

  We braved the Super Bowl madness over the weekend and checked into the new PH Towers By Westgate, adjacent to the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Overall, we were happy with what we got for our money, especially since we read some awful reviews on TravelPost before we got there. And being a timeshare resort we were scared that we would be kidnapped by timeshare salesmen and forced to listen to a timeshare pitch in a windowless room below the casino. (Thankfully, that never happened.)However, the biggest drawback for this hotel is that it's really attached to the Miracle Mile shops rather than…

• Toronto: Indulge Your Wonderlands with Park Hyatt Toronto's John Mayer Package

  Jennifer Kester

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  Valentine's Day for hotels usually means breaking out the cases of champagne and loading up on chocolate-covered strawberries to place throughout their guestrooms. But we're not into that. We've already told you our favorite hotels for Valentine's Day but this week, we'd like to spotlight some of the most opulent V-Day packages out there. If you're going to impress your schmoopie, why not go all out? It's all well and good to spend Valentine's Day with your loved one, but you'll quickly forget what's-his-name when you get a chance to spend a night with John Mayer. The Park Hyatt Toronto is…

• New York: What Hotel Is Going Up at 48th and Lex in Manhattan?

  MsRebecca

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:55 am

  Welcome to the corner of 48th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan—and our latest burning question. What is this hotel? And when will it open? When little is released about a new property, especially one in New York City, our interest is piqued. And so it is with this glass-fronted number to be run by Hersha Hospitality. Here’s what we’ve learned about the mysterious hotel:

• Fort Myers: Sanibel Harbour Marriott Goes Buckwild with Bridezillas for Valentine's Day

  MsRebecca

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am

  High season for weddings may start in June but you can always count on the seriously schmaltzy types to get hitched on Valentine’s Day. Like the 48 couples who are getting married or renewing their vows at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa this year. That’s right, unless you fancy yourself a wedding crasher, you may want to rethink your dates for a quiet winter getaway in Fort Meyers.

• New York: The W New York Downtown Will Be a 'W on Steroids'

  MsRebecca

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:50 am

  Update: Yes, this Page Six story is from last year, but we were hungry for something new on the long-delayed W Downtown. We hope to bring you piping hot, fresh, new details on this baby very soon. Got any scoop? Let us know!As with any hotel delay, we were disappointed when we learned that the W New York Downtown opening was pushed back until May 4. But thanks to a Page Six magazine interview with real-estate scion Matthew Moinian, we think we have an explanation. “Think of it as a W on steroids,” Moinian told the mag of his pet project. Huh? The W Downtown is busy bulking up and…

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  Holy Kaw!

• Google Buzz's official demo [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am

  Google has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space—Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days. While this development is still unfolding, you can check out Google Buzz’s two-minute demo of Buzz in action both online and via mobile. What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google product like Wave, or a Facebook/Twitter killer? Full story at Mashable. Total Google coverage. Permalink | Leave a…

• Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  Imagine a galaxy far, far away where Darth Vader sounded like any other British bloke strolling down the corridors of the Death Star. Before James Earl Jones provided the menacing voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, English actor and bodybuilder David Prowse delivered the lines from inside the Darth costume. While George Lucas never intended for Prowse’s voice to make the flick’s final cut, it’s weird to imagine how different Star Wars would have been with a different Vader voice. Full story at Huffington Post. Tons of Star Wars tidbits. Permalink | Leave a…

• 7 things you didn’t know about condoms

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am

  Rubbers. Raincoats. Inconvenient. Whatever you call 'em, condoms remain a must-have in the safe sex tool box. Long before the days of Durex and Trojans, men used animal intestines to protect their willies (that sounds lovely, eh ladies?) and still to this day use lambskin condoms for latex allergies and supposed extra sensitivity. Want to learn even more fun facts about condoms that will surely impress your friends and potential lovers? Check out Asylum's seven things you probably didn't know about condoms that includes tantalizing tidbits like: Vaseline + condoms = Disintegrated rubber and…

• Horror flick mirror scare mash-up [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:25 am

  Horror movies love to rely on cliches to scare the bejeezus out of us, but does it really surprise anyone that the axe murderer is going to pop in the reflection of a mirror? Ok, yes, it still totally sparks a few pee-in-pants moments. Check out this mash-up of mirror scare moments (fair warning: don’t watch alone in a big, dark, scary house): Full story at Four Four. Boo! Tons of scary and not so scary movie news. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 7 things you shouldn't do on Valentine's Day

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am

  Ah, Valentine’s day. February fourteenth marks that special moment in the year when Hallmark cashes in on our emotions and cupid gets busy shooting arrows. Whether you’re indifferent, excited, upset, or madly in love—there are seven things you just shouldn’t do on this lovey-dovey holiday. See a few do-not-do’s below: Go on a first date. First dates are hard enough, why add the extra pressure? Call your ex. Abort mission! On a day like this, it’s normal for your thoughts to drift to the one you used to be with, but you broke up for a reason. So, spare…

• 
  The Perrin Post

• How to Maximize Your Port Sightseeing During Your Mediterranean Cruise

  Conde Nast Traveler

  21 Jan 2010 | 7:12 am

  It's sometimes smartest to avoid the cruise line's pre-fab group shore tours and hire a private driver and/or English-speaking local guide to pick you up at the pier, take you to the sights you want to see, and then return you to the ship shortly before it sails.

• How to Get the Flights You Want with the Miles You Have

  Conde Nast Traveler

  14 Jan 2010 | 2:34 pm

  I hope everyone's having a happy new year. Mine's been a busy one so far. Since 2010 started I've skiied in Vermont, been to a wedding in Boston, and planned trips to Montreal, Mumbai, and Hawaii all within the next...

• How to Cope with Holiday Flight Cancellations, Overbooked Planes, and Other Airline Adversity

  Conde Nast Traveler

  22 Dec 2009 | 10:14 am

  If you're hitting an airport this holiday season, you should follow these steps to minimize the damage that flight delays and cancellations can do to your travel plans.

• How To Turn Your Hodge-Podge of Miles in Different Mileage Accounts Into a Free Ticket

  Conde Nast Traveler

  21 Dec 2009 | 9:36 am

  What to do when you've got a bunch of frequent-flier mileage accounts, yet not enough miles in any one of them? Here are the top ten ways to turn them into a free ticket.

• Tips for the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia

  Conde Nast Traveler

  8 Dec 2009 | 8:21 am

  A question has come in: "We are going to St. Lucia's Coconut Bay Resort on January 1st. Any tips for our week there?"

• 
  CrunchGear

• Android update after next likely to be codenamed “Gingerbread”

  Greg Kumparak

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  As any good Android-obsessed geek should know by now, Google’s made a tradition out of alphabetically naming their firmware builds after sweets. Android 1.5 was “Cupcake”, v1.6 was “Donut”, v2.0 is “Eclair”, while the next release will be lovingly dubbed “Froyo”. “But what comes after that?!” you say from the edge of your seat. Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

• The White Glove watch: The dumbest thing you’ll see all day

  John Biggs

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  As he came into the window It was the sound of a Crescendo He came into her apartment He left this stupid Michael Jackson glove watch for freaking $149 (act now and get a stupid free glove) on the carpet She ran Underneath the Table He could see she was unable So she ran into The bedroom She was struck Down It was her doom. Ulli are you OK, are you OK Ulli?

• If Google Wave Is The Future, Google Buzz Is The Present

  MG Siegler

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am

  Google has a problem. Despite having their hands in just about everything online, they’ve never been able to tackle what is a key part of the fabric of the web: social. Yes, they have Orkut and OpenSocial, but no one actually uses them. Okay, some people use them, but not in the meaningful social ways that people use Facebook or even Twitter. Today, Google may have just solved their social problem. Google Buzz is easily the company’s boldest attempt yet to build a social network. Imagine taking elements of Twitter, Yammer, Foursquare, Yelp, and other social services, and shoving them…

• The Twitter- and Netflix-equipped Vizio HDTVs are now shipping

  Matt Burns

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am

  Vizio announced the 1080p LED XVT line way back in June of ‘09 and they are just now starting to ship. These are the sets that come with that oh-so-awesome QWERTY remote to work the TV’s collection of Internet apps. It’s too bad that most owners will still need a cable or satellite box because this TV line is nearly an all-in-one solution for home entertainment. Get this, the XVT and upcoming XVT Pro line have all these services built-in: Vudu Netflix Yahoo TV Wdigets Flickr Twitter Blockbuster OnDemand Amazon Video On Demand Rhapsody Pandora Showtime videos Revision3 videos…

• Asus has the first Nvidia Optimus laptops~!

  Nicholas Deleon

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Kudos, I guess, to Asus, being the first manufacturer to incorporate Nvidia’s Optimus technology into actual products. The Taiwan-based company has announced five laptops (note: I refuse to use the term “notebook” when referring to laptops; I think the name “netbook” is dumb, too, so at least I’m consistent) that range in size from 13.3 inches to 17.3 inches, all of which use Optimus. “What is Optimus?” I’m glad you asked! It switches between the Nvidia GPU and the Intel integrated GPU as the situation warrants. So, using Firefox? Let the…

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  Travel Rants Blog

• Share your worst airline flight delays

  Darren Cronian

  27 Jan 2010 | 3:36 pm

  The nasty weather in the UK through Christmas and the New Year meant many travellers plans were disrupted, with flights delayed or cancelled. There’s not a great deal you can do about the weather but I wish our airports and public transport in general could cope with the bad weather; it is winter after all. Airline tricks and unhelpful customer support As you can imagine my inbox was full of stories from consumers, many asking if they were entitled to compensation for being delayed or their flight cancelled. To be honest I was shocked at the types of tricks that the airlines used and how…

• Time to share my travel mistakes

  Darren Cronian

  25 Jan 2010 | 12:10 pm

  Most of us have been guilty of rushing to the airport to catch our flight, or worst still, arrived at the wrong airport. I remember reading a story about a group of Newcastle football fans who had arrived in the city where the team was playing a day early, and were flying home the day of the game. I am always giving out travel advice, yet, sometimes, I fall foul of my own stupid travel mistakes. Checked into the wrong hotel This incident happened last year. I decided to take a long weekend trip to Venice, and all was going well. I found the street where my hotel was located, checked-in,…

• Apartments abroad and Resort taxis ceased trading

  Darren Cronian

  21 Jan 2010 | 11:45 am

  I have just heard that accommodation only company Apartments abroad has today ceased trading. The company sold accommodation all over the world including popular tourist destinations in Europe and the US. They do not appear to be ABTA members, I thought they were though. Independent traveller protection issues I am not sure at this point how many consumers will be affected. Consumers were able to book accommodation via the website but I understand that travel agents also used them. The company also owns resort taxis, a specialist airport transfer service. I wanted to post this now in case any…

• Companies donate to Haiti for PR or to make a difference

  Darren Cronian

  19 Jan 2010 | 1:19 pm

  I can’t imagine what the residents of Haiti are going through and when I watch the news I wish I could do more to help. I wasn’t going to write this post but felt I needed to get it off my chest. When disasters such as Haiti we have to come together and help, and it is great that millions were raised so quickly. Helping Haiti or PR In the last week though I have seen a number of companies (including a few in travel) promoting the fact that they have helped people in Haiti by delivering some form of aid or donated a chunk of cash. I cannot help but think that this is more about PR,…

• Worst airport security experiences

  Darren Cronian

  14 Jan 2010 | 11:05 am

  One of my least favourite parts of flying is queuing and going through airport security. It never seems organised. Airport security has been in the news a lot recently and with the introduction of full body scanners in British airports, sometime in 2010, I don’t think it’ll get any better. Baggage searched at Schiphol airport This year I will be taking my first jaunt over to the US and I cannot wait to experience the security there. I remember back to when I was 17 and travelling through Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. I must have looked guilty because all of my bags were searched,…

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  World Hum

• Facebook and America’s Social Geography

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:45 am

  Here’s a fascinating map put together by PeteSearch, showing the regional connections between America’s Facebook users. The data creates some unexpected clusters and movement patterns: For instance, users in the northeastern states—dubbed “Stayathomia”—tend to have more local and fewer long-range connections, while users in the “Nomadic West” generally have more far-flung friendship networks. (Via Kottke)

• 76-Second Travel Show: For the Love of Luge

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:03 am

  Just in time for the Vancouver Olympics, Robert Reid on places to try the "fastest sport on ice"

• Photo You Must See: Flocking to Geumgang Lake, South Korea

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:32 am

  A flock of teals fly over Geumgang Lake in Gunsan, about 168 miles south of Seoul.

• ‘Distance and Difference are the Secret Tonic of Creativity’

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am

  Another welcome addition to the Why We Travel canon, this one from Jonah Lehrer. He recently wrote about the cognitive benefits of travel in the San Francisco Panorama: Travel, in other words, is a basic human desire. We’re a migratory species, even if our migrations are powered by jet fuel and Chicken McNuggets. But here’s my question: is this collective urge to travel—to put some distance between ourselves and everything we know—still a worthwhile compulsion? Or is it like the taste for saturated fat, one of those instincts we should have left behind in the…

• Haiti: Give Aid or Deal With the Roots of the Problem?

  The World Hum Editors (eva.jt.holland@gmail.com)

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:57 pm

  On the question few people are asking about Haiti after the earthquake

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  The Daily Traveler by Condé Nast Traveler

• Can't Miss Travel Tips for 2010

  Conde Nast Traveler

  22 Jan 2010 | 1:23 pm

  Is it really already nearing the end of January? Time to think about some can't-miss hotels, exhibitions and goings-on for 2010

• Retail Therapy in Paris

  Conde Nast Traveler

  12 Jan 2010 | 10:30 am

  Colette on Rue Saint Honoré Photo: karl_hab / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 by Ondine Cohane I didn't get to make my annual Paris expedition last year due to travels elsewhere and I really missed it especially for the killer shopping opportunities...

• Goodbye 2009: Ondine's Favorite Travel Discoveries

  Conde Nast Traveler

  6 Jan 2010 | 9:01 am

  Before looking ahead to the most anticipated destinations and openings of 2010, it is time to say goodbye to 2009 and ten of my favorite discoveries of the year.

• New York Hotel Restaurants Now Home to Top Chefs

  Conde Nast Traveler

  28 Dec 2009 | 11:18 am

  A decade ago, a hotel restaurant was mostly an afterthought, the sad stomping grounds of weary business travelers and harried families who couldn't make it off site to somewhere better. But in the last few years particularly, an on-site eatery has become a property's star attraction drawing both well-heeled locals as well as discerning out-of-towners.

• The Best of Celebrity Travel 2009

  Conde Nast Traveler

  23 Dec 2009 | 1:30 pm

  Cooking with Top Chef finalist Fabio Viviani was a challenge, especially for this kitchen nitwit. by Beata L. Santora Ho, ho, ho! Merrrry Christmas! The fat man has almost landed, which means it's time for us to look back at...

• 
  Newyorkology

• Restaurant Week extends to Feb. 28 at most locations

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am

  NYC Restaurant Week, which unofficially ended this past Friday, has officially been extended through Feb. 28 at more than 190 restaurants, NYC & Co, the event’s sponsor, confirmed today. Restaurants taking part in the extension include 21 Club, Aquavit, Bar Boulud, Blue Water Grill, Cafe Fiorello, Calle Ocho, Capsouto Frères, Carlyle Restaurant, Central Park Boathouse, Cipriani Dolci, David Burke Townhouse, DBGB; Gallagher’s Steakhouse, Gotham Bar & Grill, Kittichai, Le Cirque, Le Colonial, Mesa Grill, Morimoto, Nobu, Oak Room, One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Petrossian,…

• Cirque du Soleil open house Feb. 10 at Beacon Theatre

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:15 am

  Cirque du Soleil will open its doors for a free open house Feb. 10 at the Beacon Theatre as the company prepares to open its new “Banana Shpeel” show. The open house — scheduled from from 4:30 to 7 p.m. — promises a “sneak peek at the creative process, meet and greet opportunities with artists, and tastings from surrounding restaurants and bakeries.” The event is free, a Cirque spokesperson told NewYorkology. The Beacon Theatre is located at 2124 Broadway between 74th and 75th streets. “Banana Shpeel” will play at the Beacon from Feb. 25 through…

• Bar, music returns to Top of Rock for February nights

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  Although the Rainbow Room remains closed, Rockefeller Center is bringing back high-in-the-sky cocktails - at least on four nights in February. The observation deck at Top of the Rock will bring in live music and a bar on three Wednesdays — Feb. 10, 17, 24 - plus on the evening of Valentine’s Day, for its Starlight Music Series. The bar will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Wednesdays, and from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 14. Although Top of the Rock has several outdoor observation decks, the bar and music will be indoors in the weather room (which has tall windows and great views.) The…

• Geek drinks: Valentine's 101 at Hayden Planetarium

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:23 am

  The American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday will bring the birds and the bees to its monthly geek drinks cocktail event. The theme for February’s after-hours SciCafe event is “Valentine’s Day 101: Why Humans Have Sex.” Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss will be on hand to discuss why sex is used for more than just reproduction and pleasure. The free event is held in the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. There’s a cash bar and entry is over-21 only. Doors open at 7 p.m. SciCafe started in October and is held the first…

• Acela free wi-fi to start March 1 on all high-speed trains

  1 Feb 2010 | 6:41 am

  One month from today, free wi-fi will be installed on all high-speed Acela trains, Cliff Cole, an Amtrak spokesperson, told NewYorkology by e-mail this morning. The plan is for a “full roll out on the Acela Express trains on March 1st,” he said. Previously Amtrak had announced it planned to offer the wi-fi starrting sometime in March. At least initially, the wi-fi will be free to all customers on the Acela trains, which travel the Washington D.C.-New York - Boston corridor several times a day. Plans are also in the works to upgrade the interior of all Acela Express trains to…

• 
  Intelligent Travel: From National Geographic Traveler

• Great Backyard Bird Count

  Jeannette Kimmel

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:10 am

  Casual birders take note: This weekend is your chance to contribute to some serious scientific research. Alison Brick has the details. There are certain times when you realize that  the phrase "in your own backyard" really covers some ground, and this weekend is one of them. The 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will run from Friday, February 12 through Monday, February 15, and you're invited to join in. The project relies on us "citizen scientists" to count birds in our own neighborhoods for a comprehensive, real-time snapshot of bird populations across North America.The results…

• Bus2Antarctica: Bolivian Border Control

  IT Blog

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:45 am

  Andrew Evans provides a cinematic retelling of the story of his border crossing into Bolivia.Screenplay for a short film. All dialogue takes place in Spanish with English subtitles. The setting is the tumbledown Peru-Bolivia border town of Desaguadero, on the shores of breathtaking Lake Titicaca. Pan across the bright blue watery expanse and the brown Andes Mountains, then down to the fields of yellow flowers and rows of reed boats drawn up on the lakeshore. Camera sweeps through the muddy streets of the Peruvian village, past burros carrying colorful loads and into a colorful Latin American…

• Daily Radar: 02.09.10

  Jeannette Kimmel

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  While living in New Zealand, I developed a love for Cadbury Moro bars (tip: try them deep-fried in Dunedin) but alas, I cannot taste their chocolatey goodness outside the Southern Hemisphere. For those of you who have a love for a certain foreign treat, check out Steve.Portigal's Musuem of Foreign Groceries on Flickr, and you might just find a photo of foreign food you've been looking for. [Gadling]More airports across Europe are joining the effort to reduce their carbon emissions. The Airport Carbon Accreditation has awarded four different levels (Mapping, Reduction, Optimization and…

• Bus2Antarctica: Bus 2 Bolivia

  IT Blog

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm

  Altitude sickness, dueling ventilation systems, popped tires and more awaited Andrew Evans as he boarded his bus in Bolivia. Some buses are better than others. In South America, bus companies attract passengers based on levels of bus quality, comfort, security, entertainment, and sleeping space. When leaving Lima I chose the Peruvian bus company Ormeño because I had already taken them in Ecuador and liked their big buses and nice service. The bus line also holds a Guinness World Record for the longest single stage commercial bus route in the world (from Lima to Buenos Aires--72 hours). I…

• A Galapagos Post Office (Without Stamps)

  Janelle Nanos

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  WiFi's ever-extended reach has changed the way we travel--we upload photos and videos to our Facebook pages while we're on vacation, or tweet our way through a day at the beach. One unfortunate side effect to all this connectivity is the dropoff in my postcard-writing. Yes, I still love jotting down these short notes, but I find that they typically arrive so far after I've returned that it's anti-climactic in a way. So I loved the sentiments behind a recent article in the Washington Post about a unique mailbox in the Galapagos. Despite not using postage, a fair share of its postcards actually…

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  Travel + Leisure: Articles

• World's Scariest Taxi Rides

  2 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am

  Breakneck rides through traffic, self-destructing vehicles, even drivers-turned-kidnappers. And they all still want a tip, too.

• Best Midlife-Crisis Trips

  1 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am

  Forget the Ferrari: travel can transform your life. Here are 10 trips to make it happen.

• World's Strangest Olympic Souvenirs

  27 Jan 2010 | 9:58 am

  From food pins to wedding dresses, these odd mementos take the gold.

• How to Get the Best Seat in Coach

  15 Jan 2010 | 10:15 am

  As airlines begin charging for seat selection, T+L explains how to get the one you want without paying the price.<br />

• America's Most Romantic Cities

  15 Jan 2010 | 8:56 am

  From New York to San Francisco, the best U.S. cities to fall in love in—or rekindle romance.

• 
  elliott.org

• Is the Transportation Department really “open”? No, but it’s getting there

  Christopher Elliott

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am

  The Department of Transportation yesterday claimed to be a leader in the administration's open government initiative, which is supposed to transform the federal bureaucracy into a "transparent, collaborative, and participatory government" that touches the lives of citizens.

• In a twist, Florida levels new charges against Palm Coast Travel

  Christopher Elliott

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:32 am

  Only a few weeks ago, Palm Coast Travel, one of three large travel agencies the state of Florida last year alleged had sold unlicensed insurance, seemed to have everything going for it. The state's investigation into its activities appeared to have hit a dead end. The company, which runs the site...

• What’s new on Elliott: Accidental tourists, when travel companies sue you and an apology to sharks who practice bondage

  Christopher Elliott

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:43 am

  Are you an accidental tourist? Plus, when travel companies sue and an Australia tour that wasn't meant to be.

• A sincere apology to the sadomasochistic sharks who practice bondage

  Christopher Elliott

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:53 am

  Now there's a headline I never thought I'd write. In one short week, it seems I've offended sadomasochists and great white sharks with my commentary. I feel an apology is in order.

• Hotel fees that must die — and how to kill them

  Christopher Elliott

  7 Feb 2010 | 4:44 am

  Resort fees. Mandatory tips. Concierge surcharges. If you’ve stayed at a hotel in the last few years, you’ve become accustomed — if not anesthetized — to these annoying extras. You expect them. You’re indifferent to them when they appear on your bill. You shouldn’t be.

• 
  Happy Hotelier

• America’s Cup 33: Racing will start Februari 8, 2010

  Happy Hotelier

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:24 pm

  The Schooner (or Cutter) America The Auld Mug is named after I’ve not followed the intermediate legal battles in detail, although they are fascinating, but tomorrow, February 8, 2010, weather permitting the now three race only competition will start for the 33rd time at sea at Valencia, Spain. Since I attended part of the 150 year’s America’s Cup celebration in Cowes, UK, in 2001, I’m following it with more than usual interest and you can find me posting about it in my America’s Cup Category here. Off course the official site of the America’s Cup has been…

• #TweetUpTheHague: Why attend and how to boost TweetUp success

  Happy Hotelier

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:05 pm

  It’s an omission that I didn’t post earlier about a TweetUp, especially since I attended my first Tweetup, #TweetUpTheHague no 1 already back in August 2009. What is a TweetUp? I like this definition of Paul McFredies of WordSpy: A real world meeting between two or more people who know each other through the online Twitter service I’ts as simple as that. No more no less. My reasons to attend #TweetUpTheHague Even dogs do it :-) as you can see from the photo of Oppi, the dog of Eppo. On a more serious note: To satisfy my always present insatiable curiosity: who is behind that…

• Email Marketing Software for Newsletters for Bloggers

  Happy Hotelier

  1 Feb 2010 | 1:53 pm

  Some of my travelblogger friends send newsletters on a more or less frequent basis. Since I’m revamping my Haagsche Suites Sites, I would like to have a possibility to send newsletters that integrate blog posts. So I’ve been asking around and thus far came across the following possibilities which I will check: AWeber. Campaign Monitor. SendBlaster. Mailchimp My Newsletterbuilder Feedblitz Off course you can have your readers subscribe via Feedreader e-mail subscription, but I don’t like to get an email of every post somebody posts, and believe my readers here nor my future…

• Travel and The IPad – Some preliminary Thoughts

  Happy Hotelier

  28 Jan 2010 | 2:54 pm

  In an impressive presentation Steve Jobs introduced the world to the IPad. What influence will it have on travel? Some preliminary thoughts: In the preamble Steve explained that Apple is by now bigger than Nokia, Samsung and Sony profitability wise in mobile devices…It may be assumed that it will be rolled out big 60 or 90 days from now. My main question is: Will you be able to leave your laptop (or eee netbook) home for an Ipad? If so, it is a must have. You can e-mail, write, calculate and make key note presentations with it, browse the web, watch photos and videos with it and listen…

• What happened to the vintage Nested Suitcase Design?

  Happy Hotelier

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:18 am

  Via Cribcandy I came across this vintage nested suitcase installation. Cribcandy found it on Mocoloco and Mocoloco found it at Design*Sponge. It made me wonder what designers do nowady with this perfectly pratical idea. If you travel you can’t have enough suitcases, but at home those darn suitcases take a lot of space…what better than to nest them in storage? I did a quick image search on Nested Suitcases, but couldn’t find any eye candy design. Did I overlook something or is the idea obsolete and am I only nostalgic? What happened to the vintage Nested Suitcase Design? is a…

• 
  Traveling Mamas

• Those Plastic Beads Aren’t Cheap

  CajunMama

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:51 am

  Have you ever wondered just what is involved with planning a Mardi Gras parade? I know I have. We take our family to parades in Baton Rouge and New Orleans during Carnival Season. I’ve had friends ride on floats and I’ve even been inside the Rex Den, but I never actually thought about how much those plastic little beads really cost. Many months ago, I was invited to see what is involved in the planning of a Mardi Gras Parade. I was sworn in as a member of Baton Rouge’s all female krewe – The Krewe of Artemis. I was nervous as I went to my first meeting, held at Embassy…

• Luxury Watch Cures a Traveling Mama’s Jetlag

  CajunMama

  3 Feb 2010 | 3:16 am

  I get many press releases daily, but every once in a while I get one that strikes a chord with me. This morning, while feeling a bit tired and rundown from a recent trip to Canada, I checked my email to find this title: HEALING FOR THE CONSTANT JET SETTER COMES IN THE FORM OF A WATCH I went on to read the release, which mentions globe-trotting celebrities and socialites, but also mentions average Joes (or in my case, mamas). The crazy part of all this is that the release was for a product I’ve owned for five years – a Philip Stein watch. This timepiece is a pricey luxury item, but…

• Romantic Escape in Victoria, BC

  CajunMama

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:34 pm

  Located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria offers a taste of how life used to be. This charming and intimate town offers the perfect location for a romantic getaway. Its strong British influence is all things romantic with its gardens, afternoon tea and antique shops. Victoria also offers golf for those in search of the greens, award winning restaurants and art galleries galore. Surprisingly, its nightlife is alive all year round. Many visitors know of The Fairmont Empress Hotel and its Tea Lobby. This is a well-known attraction, but since I didn’t actually experience…

• What is a Nordic Spa?

  CajunMama

  31 Jan 2010 | 5:29 am

  Have you ever heard of a Nordic Spa? I’ve found that they are very popular in Canada’s Quebec Province. Last year I checked out a Nordic spa near Quebec’s Ice Hotel and it was a screamer. This year, I found an indoor spa in downtown Montreal right around the corner from Le Petit Hotel on Rue Saint-Paul E. Nordic spas are also called thermal spas and treatment includes a series of visits at different areas. The first part opens the pores and starts with choice of a 10-15 minute visit to thermal bath, eucalyptus steam room, or Finnish sauna. The second step is the closing of…

• Interview with a Traveling Mama – Alice Griffin

  CajunMama

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:14 am

  Alice Griffin is the author of the informative and inspirational book Tales From a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms It is chock full of useful tips and advice on traveling with little ones. Alice was kind enought to answer a few questions for TravelingMamas.com readers. When did you first develop a love for travel? Growing up with parents who often spoke about travel and road trips they had taken with my siblings (I missed out there being the youngest!) I think my love of travel is deep-rooted. Really I have been dreaming of far-off places for absolutely as long as I can…

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  Upgrade: Travel Better

• How not to advertise an airline (but still get laughs)

  Mark Ashley

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:20 pm

  There are ads that heighten brand awareness, make you feel attached to a company’s products, and generally make you, the consumer, confident that this firm is for you. And then there are these ads. Turkish Airlines appears to need some design help. And perhaps pity. See the images below. The first is a PR image featured in a German newsmagazine’s feature on “exotic” (!) flight attendant uniforms. (“Exotica above the clouds” … really?!) But look at the plane’s amazing engineering feats: It manages to remain upright, despite missing its front…

• Orbitz has a 24-hour cancellation policy that’s so secret, they can’t even explain it

  Mark Ashley

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:54 pm

  Gary Leff posts about a traveler who successfully sued Orbitz over their airline ticket cancellation policy. My Orbitz adventure began with reading about Orbitz’s “courtesy cancellation policy” on its website. The site stated that one could cancel an airline reservation by 10:00 P.M. Central Time the following day and get a complete refund. The exceptions were paper tickets, tours, and “certain airlines.” I wrote to Orbitz customer service, and was told that “The two airlines that are an exception from the ‘Courtesy Cancellation’ option are…

• Reality check: Passport life is 9.5 years, not 10

  Mark Ashley

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:49 pm

  I was chatting with a friend recently, and his comments reminded me of a cruel reality for passport holders: The lifespan of passports is shorter than advertised. [My youngest daughter] got a passport at age 6 weeks. She’ll be stuck with that photo until age 4 1/2, because passports aren’t really valid up until the expiration date; most countries require 6 months of remaining validity to let you in. And since kids only get 5 years’ validity anyway, for us crazies who get passports for babies, we’ll have to buy 4 passports before they’re adults and move up to the…

• United introduces one-way and cash+miles awards, and they don’t completely suck!

  Mark Ashley

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:01 pm

  United is once again “enhancing” its frequent flier program, Mileage Plus. My first thought was, “Oh no, here we go again.” I immediately flashed back to American’s rollout of one-way awards — which killed one of the best award ticket features, the free stopover. With United, it’s actually a better proposition, on the whole. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a good news/bad news scenario. But on the whole, it’s better than AA’s offering. The program changes actually incorporate two new policies: Cash+miles tickets, and one-way awards.

• Upgrades and Downgrades: Carry-on lizards, Machu Picchu, Kayak, business-traveling cats

  Mark Ashley

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:43 pm

  Downgraded: Reptiles and amphibians A German reptile collector was caught trying to smuggle 42 endangered lizards and skinks out of New Zealand. In his underwear. For once, I’m in favor of full-body scans, if only to see what this looks like on the monitor. Upgraded: Advice for worst-case aviation scenarios No one wants to think about what they would have to do in the case of an inflight accident. But if you were to survive such an event, make sure you’ve read this guide to surviving a 35,000-foot fall. Downgraded: Machu Picchu Sad news: The train line that provides access to the…

• 
  The Cranky Flier

• LAN Talks About Growing Lima, TAM and Brazil, and oneworld (Across the Aisle Part 2)

  CF

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am

  Well here we are with part two of my conversation with LAN (see part one here) and you’ll see at the end that we talk about the importance of Japan Air Lines to the South American airline. That’s particularly appropriate since JAL announced today that it would be sticking with oneworld. (see my piece on BNET) I’m sure there are a lot of sighs of relief down in Santiago today since, as you’ll see, JAL is an important partner for the airline. Cranky: Will the San Francisco flight go beyond Lima? Pablo: Yes. The plane is going to continue to Sao Paulo. We have a lot of…

• LAN’s North American Chief Talks About New San Francisco Flights, Machu Picchu Devastation (Across the Aisle Part 1)

  CF

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:46 am

  It’s been awhile since I last put together an Across the Aisle interview. Sure, I’ve spoken with plenty of people, but I haven’t done the straight interview format lately. So, when I was contacted to see if I would be interested in talking to LAN’s VP of North America and Caribbean, Pablo Yunis, I was certainly interested to kick start this series again. See, LAN just announced it would begin flying to San Francisco from Lima four times a week beginning July 1. LAN is also looking at growing elsewhere in the US and in Peru and Brazil. Beyond that, with oneworld having…

• Cranky on the Web (February 1 – 5)

  CF

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am

  Allegiant Earnings Down on Lower Fares, Flat Ancillary Revenue – BNET Allegiants earnings were down in the fourth quarter. Should we panic? Episode 83 – Aviation Jetpardy – Aviation Geeks Podcast For those who missed our fun-filled game of Aviation Jetpardy, you can listen to me take the crown. That was fun. JetBlue Finishes Converting to Sabre Reservation System – BNET JetBlue has finished its conversion, and it looks like they’ve come through relatively unscathed. Very impressive. choose your bin space wisely – antibride You probably have plenty of things…

• Frontier Adds Seven New Cities From Denver with One Thing in Common

  CF

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am

  The folks at Frontier announced their summer schedule yesterday, and there are a whopping 7 new cities joining the Frontier network. You know what they have in common? Not a single one of them is served by Southwest. Ah, very smart. Here’s the list of newbies: Branson (Missouri) Grand Rapids (Michigan) Green Bay (Wisconsin) Long Beach (California) Madison (Wisconsin) Newport News (Virginia) Santa Barbara (California) As you can see, not only are these not served by Southwest currently, but it’s highly unlikely that Southwest will start serving them any time soon. That’s a…

• Southwest Installing Wireless Internet Fleetwide

  CF

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:46 am

  For an airline that has done a good job of avoiding inflight entertainment like the plague, Southwest sure is diving right in when it comes to wireless internet service. The deal is done and wifi will start rolling out aggressively next quarter. Don’t get me wrong. They’ve been incredibly slow in actually getting to this point, but from now on, it’s going into overdrive. There are currently four test planes outfitted with wifi, but it’s been that way for about a year now. That’s one long test period. Southwest has now signed an equipment purchase agreement and…

• 
  The Lost Girls

• The Lost Girls' Site is Moving!!

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:44 pm

  The Lost Girls have an exciting announcement to make: We're moving to a new, improved site that's easier to navigate! In the next week or so, you'll no longer be able to find us at blogger because we're migrating over to Wordpress. Please change your bookmarks from blogspot to LostGirlsWorld.com. In the meantime, we won't be posting anything new to prepare for the migration. We promise it will be worth the wait because the new LostGirlsWorld.com will have cool departments, an LG store, and a whole new staff of Lost Girls' contributors to keep you up-to-date on what's happening in this big,…

• The LG Weekly News Roundup: 1.28.10

  28 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am

  by Molly FergusLG Travel News EditorMissed the big travel stories of the week? And the weird, wacky and insignificant ones? We've got your round-up right here....Wheels up for Ryan Air pee feeIt’s official! Ryan Air will charge you to pee. For those unfamiliar, the famously low-budget Dublin-based airline already lures its customers in with stupid-low airfare (say, one-Euro continental flights) before smacking ill prepared travelers with countless fees and long bus rides. Now, they’re going to install coin-operated toilets on select flights. Maybe they’ll start selling adult diapers on…

• Lost in Spain: Favorite Spots in Madrid

  27 Jan 2010 | 9:40 am

  By Molly GallagherLG Travel CorrespondentMalasaña and Bilbao are about 15 minutes away from Sol (the center of the city). For me they had the perfect combination of liveliness as well as relaxation. At any time of the day you can find local Madrilenos shopping, sitting in cafes or eating at restaurants in these two neighborhoods. There are several small boutiques, restaurants, bars and cafes. Here are some of my favorites: La MusaI found this restaurant online and when I tried it I was very pleased. They have a great weekday lunch special (€11), which means you chose an appetizer, main…

• LG Food News 1.26.10

  26 Jan 2010 | 6:50 am

  By Danielle E. AlvarezLG Food EditorA roundup of the most delicious news in the world.***Icelandic Yo-YoHaven’t heard of skyr yet? Siggi’s, the only brand of Icelandic-style yogurt in the US, have recently increased in distribution to delight health-conscious, environmentally friendly foodies everywhere. Skyr is made with hormone-free milk from grass-fed cows, sweetened with agave nectar and, similar to its’ cousin, Greek yogurt, it is thick, creamy, and mildly tangy—and very high in protein. It's also high in heart-healthy omega-3s. Go ahead, dabble in new cultures.Source: Chow.com…

• Weekends Away: Mystic, CT (forget the pizza)

  25 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am

  by Molly FergusLG Travel News Editor*********“Well, oh my!” My tour guide sheepishly exclaimed. “This is impolite, but, I do believe you’ve forgotten your skirt.”I looked down at my outfit: A coat, boots jeans. I guess it would have been rather scandalous…for 1876.I was on a Holiday Lantern Tour at Mystic Seaport, a historic museum in Connecticut similar to Colonial Williamsburg. The tour guide was completely in-character as she led me and about 10 other 21st century visitors around the seaport, a museum with tall ships and a recreated 19th century seaside village.I didn’t bring…

• 
  What a Trip

• Otterbox iPhone Commuter TL Case

  Nancy D. Brown

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Posted by Nancy D. Brown OtterBox iPhone Commuter TL Case ReviewYou know you have a winner in your hand when your teenage daughter claims it for her own. What did she borrow from dear old mom? My daughter snatched the Otterbox iPhone Defender Case before I had opened the package. However, I wasn't going to part with my iPhone case. The good folks at Otterbox shipped us the iPhone 3G/3GS Commuter TL Case for review. City Slicker or Stylish Traveler The Otterbox iPhone Commuter TL Case is not as bulky as my iPhone Defender Case. In fact, it was designed to slide easily out of your purse,…

• How to Work with Travel Bloggers

  Nancy D. Brown

  29 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am

  Posted by Nancy D. Brown Working with travel bloggers as easy as online dating? While the title may sound arrogant, some might describe the world of travel blogging as yet uncharted territory. If only the relationship between travel bloggers and public relations professionals were as easy as online dating.  Instead of filling out a form listing our physical characteristics and our favorite activities such as walking on the beach at sunset, we could describe our blog and tell our potential suitor what we're looking for in crafting the perfect post. As a…

• Best Things to See and Do in Calistoga, California

  Nancy D. Brown

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am

  Posted by Nancy D. Brown Castello di Amorosa photo by Nancy D. BrownMy favorite tips and locations for visitors to Calistoga, California. The first place I take a visitor from out of town is a downtown walking tour of Carlo Marchiori murals: Starting at Miquel's restaurant,1437 Lincoln Ave. See facing murals which show old Calistoga painted by this Italian-born muralist. Insider Tip: When looking at these murals, Marchiori is the figure in the barber chair; the man reading the paper in an upper window is based on his brother; the dogs peering out the door are Marchiori's. His partner, Tony,…

• Best Things to See and Do in Napa, California

  Nancy D. Brown

  22 Jan 2010 | 11:04 am

  Posted by Nancy D. Brown My favorite tips and locations for visitors to Napa, California. The first place I take a visitor from out of town is wine tasting or for a lunch ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train. When I crave wine country cusine, I turn to Celadon in downtown Napa. The butternut soup is delicious. To escape work I walk down to the Napa River or head to Dillon Beach. For complete quiet, I can hide away at the roof top at Avia Napa. If you come to Napa, get your picture taken on the upstairs terrace at Opus One. If you have to order one thing off the…

• Fancy Food Show 2010, San Francisco

  Nancy D. Brown

  17 Jan 2010 | 5:22 pm

  Posted by Nancy D. Brown Nancy's Candy Co. - A Gourmet DelightYou've heard of the diamond's four c's? Color, cut,  clarity and carat are all characteristics that are important to a diamond. Well, I've discovered the three c's and a g at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show. Chocolate, cheese, caramel and granola are important to the quality of my life. In its 35th year, the Winter Fancy Food Show offers specialty food retailers a peek and a taste into what's new and what's next in the ever competitive gourmet food world. I decided to approach this year's show, January…

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  USATODAY.com - The Cruise Log

• Norwegian Cruise Line to base ship in Copenhagen for first time

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:16 am

  Norwegian Cruise Line today announced it would base a ship in Copenhagen in 2011 -- a first for the line.

• Norwegian Cruise Line to sail year-round out of New Orleans

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am

  JUST POSTED: Norwegian to sail out of Copenhagen. Click HERE for details

• Chat with the chief: Costa Cruise Lines executive Maurice Zarmati

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am

  JUST POSTED: Another year-round ship for New Orleans. Click HERE for details

• Cruise analyst: Oasis of the Seas pricing is coming down (sort of)

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:47 am

  JUST POSTED: Costa Cruises boss takes your questions. Click HERE for details

• Royal Caribbean's next cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, to debut earlier than expected

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:03 am

  Royal Caribbean today announced its next cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, will debut one week earlier than expected.

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  RickSeaney.com

• Cheap Flights to Ireland to See “United Breaks Guitars” Guy

  Rick Seaney

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am

  Yes, United Airlines’ least favorite troubadour will be touring in Ireland at the end of this month, and you can hear him in person thanks to FareCompare’s cheap flights to Dublin. I’m not sure what’s on Dave Carroll’s playlist, but he has just announced that the third song in his “United Breaks Guitars” trilogy will be released March 2, along with a video. You may recall how his hilarious first video and the follow-up were huge hits that related the story of United baggage handlers flinging Dave’s guitar through the air and breaking it. This…

• Best and Worst Things about American’s New $8 Blanket Fee

  Rick Seaney

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:03 am

  Starting on May 1, American Airlines will start charging $8 for a blanket and pillow in coach – but I don’t think this is anything to get too excited about. After all, JetBlue and US Airways already charge $7 for the same deal (though I wouldn’t be surprised if that price creeps up a buck to match AA). That said, there are good and bad things about this, mostly good. Best Thing: You know your blanket will be fresh and clean (it comes in sealed plastic) and that’s great for staving off colds or even the N1H1 virus (what used to be called “swine flu”); close…

• No More Pilots on Laptops Who Overshoot Their Destinations?

  Rick Seaney

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pm

  Remember last October when those two Northwest pilots overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles because of some argument or discussion or something while both were on their personal laptops? Now, Delta (which merged with Northwest) is taking steps to see that won’t happen again by “making software and avionics changes” on some of its planes, according to the Wall St. Journal – changes that will enable Delta dispatchers to use “sound alerts” to raise distracted pilots. You might remember that everyone in the world seemed to be trying to reach those…

• “On the Wings of Love” – Will JAL Choose American or Delta?

  Rick Seaney

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am

  UPDATE: JAL has spoken – it has spurned Delta in favor of continuing its relationship with American. EARLIER: You have to admit, this whole thing with JAL (Japan Airlines) sounds kind of like a primetime soap opera. The Asian carrier which declared bankruptcy last month is the “bachelor” (sort of) in a triangle that pits American and Delta fighting to win JAL’s love – or rather, a partnership with the airline. Actually American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance of global partners has the longstanding alliance with JAL, but in wake of the bankruptcy, the carrier…

• Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Cheap Flights to Romantic Beaches for Two

  Rick Seaney

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am

  What do women (men, too) want for Valentine’s Day? Forget roses and chocolate* and give the gift of your time. People are so busy these days, that getting away together is a very big deal – but getting together in just the right spot is key. Where to go? How about the Caribbean? Our “When-to-Fly” Flight Finder for Caribbean destinations shows you all the deals to the best beaches, instantly. I just saw this deal for a cheap flight from New York to the Bahamas for just $229 roundtrip. Rather be skiing in the Rockies or savoring a charming bed and breakfast in New…

• 
  NYT > Travel

• On the Road: A List No Hotel Wants to Be On

  By JOE SHARKEY

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:16 pm

  This year’s lists singled out the 10 "dirtiest" hotels in each of six regions — the United States, Asia, Canada, France, Italy and Britain.

• Frequent Flier: A Chef’s Ingredients, and His Hopes, Run Afoul of a Border Inspection

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:15 pm

  In the travels of the chef Susur Lee, recipe ingredients raise red flags for airport security agents.

• The Art of Being Santa Fe

  By HENRY SHUKMAN

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am

  The city is celebrating its 400th anniversary, but its heart and soul are the result of constant renewal.

• Practical Traveler: Rolling Out the Yoga Mat

  By MICHELLE HIGGINS

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm

  Like Wi-Fi and on-demand movies, yoga is becoming an amenity many hotels just can’t do without.

• Local Stop | Morningside Heights: Finding College Spirit, Off the Quad

  By SARAH MASLIN NIR

  6 Feb 2010 | 12:22 am

  With a little resourcefulness, visitors to Morningside Heights, Columbia’s neighborhood, can relive their college days without any hefty tuition.

• 
  tripso.com

• 4 personality types of an airport book signing

  Jason Barger

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am

  In all my travels, I had never seen an author signing books in an airport book store. That’s why the idea seemed so perfect when the opportunity arose to hit the road for an “Airport Book Tour” for my book Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport. The [...]

• My furry Valentine

  Judie Fein

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am

  As the holiday of hearts approaches, you’re probably thinking long-stemmed roses served on a breakfast tray in a 5-star hotel. Then, hmmm ... snuggling, doing the love thang, champagne, chocolate, doing the love thang again, bundling up for a hand-holding stroll, dinner, a show and home again. The odds are slim that your amorous thoughts turn to things that creep and crawl and fly. But what if Cupid inspired you to do just that — think of animals for Valentine’s Day? One equatorial word immediately leaps to the lips: Galapagos.

• GAO: No formal testing for whole-body scanners

  Charlie Leocha

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:15 am

  What we have here, based on fairly basic research, is an expensive new whole-body scanner technology being deployed nationwide by TSA over the howls of numerous privacy groups, without independent testing, using the manufacturers' claims, all being lead by the former head of the Department of Homeland Security saying, basically, trust us.

• Travelex Insurance says Peru rains and mudslides may not be covered by insurance.

  Janice Hough

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:15 am

  Although almost all travel agents sell travel insurance, most agents will also tell you that they hate doing so. Because, quite frankly, even though travel insurance can help protect an expensive travel investment, often it seems as if insurers do everything possible to say “no” when a claim is actually filed. And judging by the information [...]

• It’s India, do you know where your children are?

  Laura Townsend Elion

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:15 am

  Although travel isn’t inherently dangerous, the mere fact of going to places unknown does mean additional safeguards are in order. Unknown streets, different languages, unfamiliar landmarks and any location where absolutely everyone is a stranger demands that you keep a close watch on your children.

• 
  Budget Travel Tips - EuroCheapo

• “NFT London” Giveaway: Share your best London budget tip and win a book!

  Pete Meyers

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:55 am

  We love London. We love to stroll through Borough Market; we love to browse through antique doodads on Portobello Road; we love the many gardens and plentiful greenery; and we certainly love a good Sunday roast. But if there’s one thing about London we wouldn’t mind changing, it’s the cost. Alas, the city that brought us J.M. Barrie and Virginia Woolf can also bring prohibitively high prices to travelers who don’t mind the wallet gap. But fear not, Cheapos, there are many ways to save during your next trip to London. We’ve included many within our London city…

• The Barcelona Card Revisited: Is it still worth it?

  Regina W Bryan

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:34 am

  The CosmoCaixa science museum. Photo by Alan Bell. By Regina Winkle-Bryan in Barcelona— Visitors to Barcelona (especially those who stop by the tourist office) will no doubt learn about the Barcelona Card for museum and transportation discounts. A couple years ago, we were not sure if the Barcelona Card really packed enough bang for the buck. In fact, our conclusion was simple: the Barcelona Card? Not for us. This year, we’ve changed out minds a bit, and offer you another look at this discount card. Barcelona Card. Photo courtesy of the Barcelona Card site. What to consider before buying…

• Rome: Top 5 Vatican attractions

  Samantha Collins

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:52 am

  The fountain in St. Peter's Square. Photo by xiquinhosilva. By Samantha Collins in Rome— A visit to Rome is not complete without seeing the Vatican. With its world-famous St. Peter’s Square, imposing dome, rather nice painted chapel ceiling, and fairly well-known resident, it has plenty of attractions. But with so much to see, where should you start? 1. St. Peter’s Square This vast space is famous for being the home of Papal Addresses (and for being integral to the plot of Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons“). It can accommodate up to 300,000 people, a number that puts the…

• Helsinki: Three budget-friendly cafes in Helsinki

  Sarah Silbert

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:46 am

  Outside Cafe Ekberg. Photo by BjørnS. Other photos by Sarah Silbert. By Sarah Silbert— To be perfectly frank, Helsinki doesn’t offer much in the way of exciting, inexpensive eats. Sure, if you’re willing to shill out for Michelin-rated Scandinavian cuisine and seafood, you’ll find no shortage of gourmet options. For those of us on a budget, however, choices are limited to kebab and pizza joints, as well as “grillis,” which serve up hot dogs and other greasy, filling treats. A cinnamon roll and coffee at Cafe Esplanad. Are your taste buds unstimulated? Not to…

• Europe’s minor airports offer interesting travel opportunities

  hiddeneurope

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am

  The town of Lübeck, not far from Hamburg. Photo by lokenrc. By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries— It has become fashionable for minor airports across Europe to seek prominence through association with major cities that are often many miles away. And airlines that serve these minor airports, largely because of their cheaper landing fees, are happy to join in the game. Exploring Allgäu from “Munich West” Canny Cheapos know that Germany’s Frankfurt Hahn airport is nowhere near Frankfurt. Likewise, one discount airline has now decided that the name “Memmingen…

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  Go Green Travel Green

• 5 Tips for Hiking with Your Dog: A Green Vacation for the Whole Family

  Kimberly

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am

  This is a guest post by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right system for you, help you install it, and help train your pet to use the new system. My favorite vacation involves packing up a small tent, a backpack and some food and heading out with my husband for a hike or a bike ride. Even if we only manage a few days away, I really enjoy the seclusion, and the time to think and talk. It feeds our relationship. I love the quote, “Take only photographs and leave only footprints” and I always make the effort to leave the…

• Best of Go Green Travel Green 2008-2009

  Kimberly

  28 Jan 2010 | 2:50 pm

  As we celebrate the two year anniversary of Go Green Travel Green, we look back on how we’ve gotten where we are today. From packing light and hypermiling to travel photos and water bottles, here are some of our most popular posts from 2008 and 2009. Travel Tips & Tricks Ultimate Guide to Packing Light: 45 Tips to Lighten Your Load 10 Best Countries for Vegetarian or Vegan Travel Shades of Green Travel The Extreme Hypermiling Guide: 450+ Tips to Increase Your Miles Per Gallon and Save Gas 10 Free Ways to Learn a Language 11 Common Foods to Naturally Relieve Illness while Traveling…

• Happy 2 Year Anniversary, Go Green Travel Green!

  Kimberly

  27 Jan 2010 | 11:20 am

  Two years ago tomorrow, we launched Go Green Travel Green with the goal of making environmentally friendly travel accessible to everyone. Since then, we’ve been featured on Newsweek, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, MSN Money, National Geographic, PC World, Kayak, and Lifehack. We were even named one of the [London] Times Online’s Top 100 Travel Sites for 2009. We couldn’t have done it without our fans. Thanks for your support! As we celebrate our two year anniversary, we look back on the past and forward to the future. With that in mind, tomorrow we’ll post the Best of Go Green…

• Fairmont Copley Plaza: Boston, MA Hotel Review

  Kimberly

  20 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am

  On our recent trip to Boston, Elizabeth and I were able to get an excellent rate at a gorgeous historic hotel, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. I don’t stay in hotels often, but when I do, I pay close attention to what hotels are doing to go green. Overall, I loved staying at the Copley Plaza. Here’s why, from an eco-friendly point of view. Recycling bins in rooms The only other hotels where I’ve seen abundant recycling options are Kimptons, so I was glad to see that the hotel recycling bin is catching on. The Copley Plaza’s recycling bin was right next to the trash can.

• Eating Our Way Through the Best Restaurants in Boston

  Kimberly

  13 Jan 2010 | 12:09 pm

  Boston is an excellent destination for the green traveler, as we discovered on our recent trip. There’s fantastic public transportation provided by the T, Boston’s subway system; there’s a rich history; there’s cultural diversity. But above all, there’s food: from Italian to Indian and ice cream to brunch, Boston provides an abundance of delicious local dining options. Here’s our food journey through the best restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts. Radius We started out our Boston eating extravaganza with a celebratory dinner at Radius, one of Boston’s…

• 
  SmarterTravel.com: Travel Advice

• Best Cruise Deals of 2010's 'Wave Season'

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Wave Season doesn't bring rocky seas, it brings great deals. Whether you're looking for free airfare, cabin upgrades, or even two-for-one fares, it's time to start searching, and planning, for your next cruise vacation.

• Top 10 Spring Travel Deals Under $1,000

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Our Deal Detective combats the dreary days of winter with a slew of spring savings to destinations like Australia, Italy, Ireland, Orlando, Hawaii, Thailand, and more.

• Everything You Need to Know About Airport Security: A Primer for 2010

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  The past month has been an eventful one in the world of airport security. Now that the dust has settled, it's time to lay out the basics every traveler should know before heading to the airport.

• Cancelled Flight, Lousy Alternative: What Can I Do?

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:21 am

  The Delta-Northwest merger caused our reader's itinerary to go from good to horrible. Ed Perkins explains what your rights are when airlines change your plans without asking.

• Couches in Coach: What One Airline's Gamble Means for You

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  The coach-class upgrade could signal big changes industry-wide. Plus, updates on oversize passenger charges and why to avoid JFK this summer.

• 
  DeliciousBaby.com

• Avia Napa Hotel Review

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  We were guests of the Avia Napa on this trip. I received no other compensation beyond the room, and the hotel did not require that I express a particular point of view. Families with kids have many hotel choices when they visit the Napa Valley. There are chain hotels, resorts where you can lounge all day by a pool, and bed and breakfasts where you might worry about your child's every noise. What appealed to me about the Avia Napa when I started my search for a hotel on this trip, was the central location in Napa's "downtown." We're out-and-about a lot when we travel, and generally don't use…

• Northern California Road Trip: Golden Gate Bridge and Mrs Grossman's Sticker Factory

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  I paid my own way at Mrs Grossman's Sticker Factory. Whenever I accept a free product or service for review, I will always let you know. While I'm disclosing things, I should also let you know that if you purchase a product through an Amazon link on my site, I will receive a small commission. I owe a huge thank you to Meg of Backpack To Buggy who sent me a very detailed list of suggestions about things to do and see while we were in Sonoma County. The drive from San Francisco to Napa is about one and a half hours. That's not long at all, unless you happen to have a 7 month old who hates being…

• Tallinn Estonia With Kids

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:45 pm

  This is a guest post from Kaare Revill who has traveled extensively with her three kids: ages 6, 4, and 2. She was kind enough to share her best recommendations for a family visit to Estonia - a family-friendly European destination that most Americans don't know much about. She blogs at Abrilliantplace By Wikipedia Location of Estonia Estonia is a small and beautifully forested country in Europe. Some people have never heard of it, and even if they have, most are pretty fuzzy on its geographical location. Its shores are washed by the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea; it is bordered on the…

• Photo Friday: New York Blizzard

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:25 pm

  We've all heard people talk about trips that were "ruined" by bad weather, and of course you never know what might happen when you travel. Still, there's usually some way to salvage any vacation (in part by allowing enough time that a day or two of weather or illness doesn't derail your plan entirely). Enjoying the Snow in Manhattan (Blizzard 2003) This is one of my favorite photos from New York. A huge blizzard swept in during our vacation, shutting down the city almost entirely. Offices were closed. The museums were closed. Most shops were closed. Taxis stayed home and people went…

• San Francisco With Kids: California Academy of Sciences

  3 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  It's always a treat when we find a great coffee shop near our hotel. I love sneaking out to pick up fresh pastry in the morning, and I rarely have the patience for a full sit-down breakfast. Breakfast at Farm:Table exactly fit the bill. The menu is simple, but with items like "daily toast" and fresh made baked goods it feels special. There's a cozy table tucked in the corner that made the perfect spot to snack on our bannana muffins and olive oil bread. This coffee shop is so welcoming, it almost feels as if you are entering someone's home. Farm:Table, San Francisco Next we hopped on a train…

• 
  nerd's eye view

• On Writing: Ten Dollars Worth of Crazy

  nerd's eye view

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:25 pm

  I spent about an hour on Sunday morning trying to calculate what kind of travel experience I could have for ten dollars. I figured I could take the bus downtown, get a drip coffee and maybe a cookie, and then, take the bus back again. I could drive to Tacoma and back in my car on about ten bucks worth of gas, I might also be able to get a soda or a candy bar, but not both, from a 7-11. There’s some stuff I could do locally for free — walk over to the park or ride my bike down to the beach or hey, there’s the library, it’s a godsend, right? But travel, on ten dollars?

• Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

  nerd's eye view

  4 Feb 2010 | 5:17 pm

  I was saddened to read about the death of ‘Masa’ Murakami in yesterday’s Seattle Times. The Murakami family ran the Higo general store on Jackson Street in the neighborhood that used to be called Nihonmachi, or Japan Town. Before Higo became the design conscious place it is today, it was a complete hodge podge of a place, selling flip flops and kitchen ware — there were hat mannequins that looked to be from the 40s on high shelves on the west wall. We used to go in there to browse the chopstick rests and soup bowls and dish scrubbers and giant metal woks. I still drop…

• Review & Giveaway: Westport Weekend

  nerd's eye view

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:25 pm

  Disclaimer: Our stay at Vacations by the Sea and our dinner at the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill were comped. I did not think that I was stressed out, but nothing will help a person unwind quite so fast as a view of the ocean. While I am very much a land creature — I get seasick — I love the ocean with my whole heart. I love the way it smells, I love watching the surf, I love it when a beach is covered in thick white fog and when the sand is so hot it bakes you completely when you stretch out on it. I’m crazy for the coast and think the Pacific the grandest of sights. As…

• Coconut Humu

  nerd's eye view

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:31 pm

  So, um, yeah, I’m in this ukulele group. And you could come see us play and help raise money for a Good Cause. Get your tickets here.

• Tell Me a Story @ TBEX 2010

  nerd's eye view

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  TBEX is the Travelblog Exchange, a conference for travelbloggers. It’s in year two and this year, I’m co-hosting the community keynote with Mike Barish. 1. At a guest house in the Austrian Alps, I met an old farmer who sat out WWII because he was captured by American soldiers his first day in uniform. He spent the entire war in a POW camp in Texas and loved it so much he didn’t want to go home. 2. My sister in law did not believe the things I wrote on my blog about crossing the street in Hanoi. After we returned the US, she called my husband and I overheard him retelling how…

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  HOTELMARKETING.COM

• Egencia fishing for new corporate accounts with global hotel study

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:05 pm

  Expedia's business travel shop Egencia previewed results from a global study "Hotel Cost Control: Savings and Opportunities," finding that companies risk tremendous annual budget losses through unmanaged travel activity.

• Can TripAdvisor hotel reviews be trusted?

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:04 pm

  If websites like TripAdvisor are riddled with fake reviews, where will the traveller go for authentic advice, asks Charles Starmer-Smith of The Sydney Morning Herald.

• Ebookers unveils mobile site

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm

  Ebookers believes it has stolen a march on its rivals by taking a first strategic step into mobile with a new site designed for customers to use on their handsets, writes TravelWeekly UK.

• More about the list no hotel wants to be on

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm

  The New York Times talked with TripAdvisor’s chief executive, Stephen Kaufer, about the company's "dirtiest hotels list" and the fury it caused among hoteliers, especially in Europe.

• How online maps will change advertising

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm

  We've seen some early mashups of web applications that allow developers to overlay cool and useful information on top of Google and Bing maps. But those early applications are going to be overcome quickly by newer, more powerful applications that will be incredibly useful for marketing businesses.

• 
  Johnny Jet's Weekly Newsletter

• Rhone Alps, France Slideshow

  We left off last week in Lyon, France. From there I headed south to the Rhone Valley. Our first stop was a winery about 59 miles away an 80 minute drive.

• The Nickelodeon Hotel and Royal Caribbean Cruise

  There's nothing like a summer vacation at the very end of the summer: You get the anticipation all summer long, plus the kids are totally sick of the community pool and raring to go on an adventure. Luckily, we had the "best adventure ever" on our family vacation this summer, thanks to Nickelodeon and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.

• Waikiki Beach, Hawaii Slideshow

  I left off last week from the beautiful island of Kauai. Instead of getting on one of the many nonstop flights back to the mainland I decided to fly 19 minutes to Honolulu (it's on the island of Oahu) to spend the weekend with some friends. It wasn't surprising that my Hawaiian Airlines flight was on time: They always seem to hold the best on-time record among the 19 U.S. airlines surveyed each month. The latest numbers are from November 2009 and sure enough Hawaiian was at the top again, with a 93.3 percent rating. I know what you're thinking: It helps to have pretty much perfect weather all…

• Lyon, France Slideshow

  The first thing I did after collecting my luggage at baggage claim was hit the ATM to get some crisp Euros. I do this every time I land in a new country. TIP: Stay away from the currency exchange booths because they will rip you off. However, if you are traveling with a bunch of people and you all want to exchange cash, pool your money so you won't all have to pay the change fee.

• Phoenix, Arizona Slideshow

  I flew Southwest from LAX to Phoenix (PHX); it's just 51 minutes there and an hour back (due to headwinds). The key to flying Southwest is to check in online 24 hours before departure so you'll be able to score a favorable seat. Southwest has open seating, which means they don't assign seats. So the earlier you check in for your flight (passengers can do it up to 24 hours in advance online), the closer you get to the front of the boarding line, which means a better chance of getting the seat you want (ahem, row 11). They board in three groups (A, B, and C) and by boarding pass numbers. It…

• 
  Evolution of Security

• TSA Haiti Evacuation Effort: A Federal Security Director's Perspective

  Bob

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:01 pm

  TSA has been lending a helpful hand in the evacuation efforts in Haiti. Our Office of Global Strategies (OGS) deployed a go team to Haiti to help support DHS with the evacuation. OGS also sent a go team to Santo Domingo to assist with departing U.S. evacuees. Also, TSA Team Sanford (SFB) transitioned to a 24 hour operation to accommodate the incoming evacuees. John Daly is the Federal Security Director (FSD) for the Sanford International Airport (SFB). SFB is a hub for the Haiti evacuation efforts and we asked if he’d like to be a guest blogger and tell us a little about the operation. ~…

• Orlando Officer Arrested

  Bob

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:03 pm

  I was sickened to hear about a former TSA staffer in Orlando who was recently arrested for lewd and lascivious conduct.TSA takes allegations such as these very seriously and steps were taken to terminate this employee. Yesterday, the employee resigned.TSA uses background screening and perpetual vetting to keep those with criminal records out of our workforce, but background checks are not a crystal ball and cannot predict what a person will do in the future.Our officers are deeply saddened and disgusted that someone who wore the uniform could commit such an unspeakable act. TSA holds the…

• What’s Wrong With This Picture?

  Bob

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:38 pm

  What’s wrong with this picture? Put quite simply, it’s a fake. The picture (minus the black boxes) has been gaining popularity ever since it was used on several popular web pages and blogs.The TSA Office of Information Technology (OIT) was able to determine that the original images used to make these pictures were taken from a stock photo website and doctored to mimic Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) images. The doctored images are nothing more than full frontal photos (hence the black boxes) with the colors inverted. The image of the gun and belt were superimposed. This can be done with…

• Can TSA Copy Your Laptop Hard Drive and Search Your Files?

  Bob

  22 Jan 2010 | 10:36 am

  I read comments every now and then about how TSA officers at checkpoint and baggage locations can search the files on your laptop and can also confiscate your computer and copy your hard drive.This is not true. In fact, we blogged about it back in February of 2008.Our officers might visually inspect your laptop and perform an explosives trace detection test, but that’s it. Our officers don’t even turn computers on during inspection.So where are the reports coming from? They’re coming from people who have had their laptops searched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For more…

• What Happened in Philadelphia?

  Bob

  21 Jan 2010 | 8:21 pm

  You have likely by now heard the story about a TSA employee who decided to play a joke on a passenger in Philadelphia. You can read the details of the passenger's unfortunate experience here.TSA views this employee’s behavior to be highly inappropriate and unprofessional and as of today, the employee is no longer with TSA.Incidents like this are a kick in the gut to our entire workforce who strive daily to do their best and keep the next attack from happening on their watch.Blogger BobTSA Blog Team

• 
  Cleared for Takeoff - The Triporati Blog

• The Balkan Hope Train

  Images from Haiti are heartbreaking. Such disasters, with their mind-boggling destruction — earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, wars — are difficult to witness, even on television. So much suffering from Mother Nature and the hand of man. The day before the tragic earthquake in Haiti I was reading a heart warming story in ...

• Top 31 Places for 2010?

  Every year around this time the New York Times (and other publications) publish lists of their favorite destinations for the new year. Often places on the list are obvious, often not, and sometimes there are real surprises. On the Times's list this year I'd put Copenhagen, Shanghai, and Costa Rica in ...

• A New Top 10 List? Ethical Destinations

  Spud Hilton reported in the San Francisco Chronicle the other day a new spin on the top 10 lists we always see at this time of year. Not the best beaches or golf courses or hot cities for the new year, but the Developing World's 10 Best Ethical Destinations. The list ...

• Bedding Down in Sweden’s Ice Hotel

  Global Warming was the topic in Copenhagen last week, but in Sweden, the buzz is all about construction of the 20th annual ice hotel. The little Lapland village of Jukkasjärvi, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, is the site of this ephemeral art project and ultimate boutique hotel experience. ...

• The Spirit of the Season at European Christmas Markets

  Every year around this time we hear railing against the commercialization of Christmas, and the exhortations to shop and buy and give do get tiring, but they're nothing new. In fact, they've been around a long time, since the Middle Ages, as the many Christmas markets across Europe attest. The oldest, ...

• 
  Wanderlust and Lipstick

• Papua New Guinea – Off the Charts

  Beth

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:07 am

  It’s been a very very long time since I sat down with a guide book to read up on a destination that I know little about. Last week my Lonely Planet guide to Papua New Guinea arrived from Amazon. PNG is a country that I’ve wanted to visit for something like 20 years. I’ve seen the exotic photos of the local tribesman. I’ve read about their propensity toward (until recently) cannibalism. And I’ve heard that PNG is one of the most difficult places to travel to and, at least in the city of Port Moresby, one of the most dangerous in the world. I’ve also heard…

• Photo of the Day: A Lesson from Bhutan

  Beth

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Bhutan’s culture and environment are in a precarious situation. The country wants and needs to increase their tourism, yet they are desperately trying to hold on to their most valuable attractions – their culture and pristine environmental resources. My tour operator in the Kingdom provides some wonderful advice and insight on the country. I’ll be returning to Bhutan in March with a group of wonderful women. I still have space available though flights into Bhutan need to be booked ASAP to ensure a spot. Check out the itinerary and let me know if you can make it! Michael…

• WanderGear Wednesday: Win $200 for Haiti from Tom Bihn

  Beth

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am

  This month, Tom Bihn is donating $200 to the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies for their efforts in Haiti and the donation will be in one lucky winner’s name. Read on… Tom Binh creates an array of travel bags, including messenger, laptop, backpacks, briefcases, weekenders, totes and a whole host of accessory bags for toiletries, passports and money. Here are a few of their products that seem to hit the sweet spot for travelers. Small Cafe Bag I have found myself recently in need of a bag that falls somewhere between a large backpack/laptop bag and a…

• Smartwool Winner Announced!

  Beth

  1 Feb 2010 | 9:45 am

  There were about 250 entrants in January to win the Smartwool Roundabout V-Neck sweater and THREE pairs of Smartwool socks. These folks simply subscribed to the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter and/or my RSS feed (see feed signup at right). Drum roll please… the winner is Lyssandra from Baltimore, Maryland Congrats, Lyssandra! You were randomly chosen using Random Number Generator. You’ll be receiving this great gear directly from the folks at Smartwool. I’ll announce February’s contest in my newsletter on Wednesday, February 3. Subscribe now to either the newsletter…

• Photo of the Day: Aloha Oahu

  Beth

  29 Jan 2010 | 7:26 am

  It’s January. I’m in Seattle. And the forecast is rain. Everyday for the foreseeable future. Seriously. The radio announcer was kinda chuckling as he read the forecast for the weekend because it was the same each day. A girl can dream right? So I started thinking about Hawaii this morning. Specifically, Oahu, where I traveled last September for a little getaway. But I have to fess up that Oahu is on my radar for another reason. I just got hooked on Lost. And I mean HOOKED. Mostly filmed on the island, if it wasn’t for the fact that the survivors from this hit TV series…

• 
  GoNOMAD

• Roofswap.com: Give Me Your Keys and I’ll Give You Mine

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:10 am

  One quick conversation with Nicole Frank could probably convince you to hand over the keys to your house and even the keys to your car, even to a complete stranger. Nicole Frank is not a con artist though; she's a home swapping expert who knows what her priorities are when it comes to traveling. Home swapping is exactly what it sounds like: two parties agree to swap homes for however long they decide: a weekend, a month or even a year. No strings attached, no payments due. It’s a "what’s-mine-is-yours" concept for those who believe in the honor system and in true-to-life traveling.

• A Windjammer Tour of Maine's Craggy Coast

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am

  I wanted to get away. Really away. Having just graduated from college, I was ready to relax and relish the free time that spread out before me. So I grabbed my boyfriend Ty and we started driving north. Our destination was Rockland, Maine, the docking place of the windjammer Nathaniel Bowditch. This being my first summertime visit to Maine, I wanted to experience the state’s craggy coast the way it was meant to be seen — from the water. Part of History The most authentic way I could find to achieve this goal was a trip on the Nathaniel Bowditch, one of Maine’s beautiful windjammers. At…

• British Columbia: A Road Trip Through the Canadian Rockies

  2 Feb 2010 | 12:31 pm

  The man was on fire! Exploding into a karate kick, the chubby, middle-aged Elvis impersonator was belting out his rendition of “Hunk of Burnin’ Love.” As the sun was setting on the shore of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, the crowd at the annual Penticton Elvis Festival was eating it up. The cooler evening air creeping in, this was the first time all day I hadn’t felt on fire. Summers in the Okanagan Valley can be very warm and dry – especially when road-tripping in a car sans air conditioning. Earlier in the day – just after arriving in Penticton and just before checking…

• The Macau Grand Prix: Fearsome Motorsports Competition

  29 Jan 2010 | 1:49 pm

  For more than 50 years, the Macau Grand Prix has been one of the world’s most fearsome motorsports competitions. Each November, a 6.2 kilometer loop of downtown streets is blocked off with hurricane fencing and plywood and the metallic screaming that rises up from behind the barricades almost makes you think some kind of mythical beast is chained beneath the surface of the city. I was lucky enough to be invited by Macau’s Tourism office to witness this spectacle firsthand as well as experience the other wonders that Macau has to offer. Along with Formula 3, Touring Car and Motorcycle…

• Experiencing For a While the History of Quebec

  29 Jan 2010 | 1:48 pm

  I had visited Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in North America, a number of times but this was the first time I had come to take part in the SAQ New France Festival - for 13 years an annual extravaganza held by the Société des alcools du Québec (Quebec Alcohol Corporation). A celebration of the first Europeans to arrive in North America, it is an exciting event that is worth attending. It takes a visitor back to the time when Quebec had its beginnings - that is if one forgets the indigenous inhabitants of that French Canadian province. Quebec City was where the French Empire…

• 
  Travellious.com

• Not Your Grandma's Travel Shoes

  kelly

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:01 pm

  Image: rchach. Why is it that when we shop for travel gear we feel like we have to sacrifice style for the sake of comfort? Chances are that you don't do that in your everyday life. So when I was asked the question recently, "What shoes can I take with me to Italy in March, that are good for walking, but don't, you know, look like a grandma," I bit. There are lots of great comfortable, casual and stylish shoe options for the traveler. It's hard to prescribe shoes for someone else. We've all got personal preferences and brands that feel better on our feet. The shoes below are merely a guide…

• Great iPhone Travel Apps

  austin

  31 Jan 2010 | 8:48 pm

  Image: nataliejohnson. Since the release of the App Store, users of the iPhone and iPod touch have seen a virtual flood of new applications that are useful for the traveler. Some of them are aimed at a particular city, while others are useful virtually anywhere. A few applications aren't aimed at travelers in particular, but can be invaluable when you're on the road. To help you sift through the mountains of apps available, we've selected some that we'd gladly take with us on our next trip. read more

• Travel Like A Human Being: Don't Stay in a Hotel

  kelly

  28 Jan 2010 | 1:10 pm

  Image: dannyman. Hotels are often cold, lifeless places to return to after a day in a foreign land. If you're on a business trip, you might relish the chance to unwind and buffer yourself from the business day. But, a traveler likes to meet people, experience the culture and get a taste of the place that they're visiting. And, a hotel makes it entirely too easy to miss out on this experience. If you're not naturally outgoing, staying outside of a hotel is even more important. In a hotel, it's easy to let your inner homebody ruin your trip. You're simply too comfortable. Instead, plan on…

• Serendipitous Spoleto

  kelly

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:53 am

  Image: kelly. Spoleto, a tiny hill town, nestled in the heart of Italy, was made famous by the arts and theater festival, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto (or the Festival of Two Worlds), that takes place there every summer. Being that it was fall, we knew there were loads of food-centered festivals going on and we found one focused on olive oil to plan our trip around. We went to Spoleto with a quest. A quest for a great olive oil. While we didn't discover it where we intended, we did, however, discover Spoleto. read more

• Cheap Eats: Vancouver, BC

  austin

  17 Jan 2010 | 10:27 pm

  Image: qousqous. Vancouver. Host of the 2010 Olympics and host to an abundance of reasons for a traveler to visit. But, if you're a traveling foodie, you simply can't find a reasonable excuse not to be planning a trip in the near future. It's home to both vibrant immigrant communities (with their food culture in tow) and a burgeoning foodie culture, which means that there are like-minded folks, out finding the best of the best. This includes the best of the cheap. Check out what I've found, so that the next time you find yourself in Vancouver, you won't ever go hungry. read more

• 
  Almost Fearless

• Digital Nomad Blog Carnival #7

  Christine

  24 Jan 2010 | 7:17 pm

  I’m this month’s host of DNBC, a traveling (from blog to blog) online carnival– a digest of the most recent month’s best posts for anyone who interested in the live-anywhere work-anywhere lifestyle (we call them digital nomads). Money I’ll start out this month’s edition with a piece I found on yahoo.com’s homepage this morning.  US News’ 21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without (by the way, I love when a print publication writes something in a list format, which is so borrowed from the online world), which talks about all the stuff we…

• How to Fly Around the World Absolutely Free

  Christine

  18 Jan 2010 | 11:02 pm

  After all the recent news about the airlines, don’t you wish you didn’t have to fly at all?  Or at least you didn’t have to actually pay to be treated like cattle?  Me too. I recently signed up to be an affiliate on for Chris Guillebeau’s website, the Art of Non-Conformity.  I was digging around his ebooks and came across his newest one: Frequent Flyer Master.  What piqued my interest (despite the name sounding a bit like something you’d see on a 2 AM infomerical) was that Chris was promising that anyone could gain enough frequent flyer miles to earn a free…

• Should You Adapt When You Travel?

  Christine

  17 Jan 2010 | 8:46 pm

  Today’s guest post is by the amazing travel and food blogger Akila from The Road Forks.  If you haven’t read her before, now is the time to go bookmark her site. Five guidebooks, each covered with pictures of golden temples and vivid spices, gave me the same advice: when I go to Southeast Asia and India, I should use the right hand to eat and gesture because the left hand is considered unclean. I do not know what these guidebook writers would have thought of my left-handed cousin, who was born and raised in North India, and always used her left hand even when accepting the…

• Connecting the Dots

  Christine

  11 Jan 2010 | 7:41 pm

  There was a time when the scariest thing I could think of doing was quitting my job and taking off overseas with just a laptop and a vague plan of becoming a writer. Now I’m maybe 6 weeks away (maybe more, depends on which due date you believe) from meeting this baby and changing everything all over again. I don’t know which was scarier… maybe it’s reassuring to know that everyone has kids, and that there’s a well-worn path to motherhood. On the other hand, you can never really know how it’ll be for you, and I feel much the same way as I did preparing for that fateful flight to…

• Security for Dummies: Why the New Airline Rules Won’t Work Either

  Christine

  3 Jan 2010 | 10:00 pm

  If you travel frequently, you already know that the US airline security screening doesn’t work.  As someone (I assume) who is not trying to blow up aircraft, hijack planes or otherwise really screw up your travel itinerary (it’s hard enough to make your connecting flight without a band of hostages slowing you down), you’d think it would be more difficult to smuggle contraband through security screening.  After all, you’re not trying to be tricky.  You’re not spending months planning the perfect 007-style concealment.  But it happens all the time.  At least…

• 
  Beat of Hawaii

• Peak Summer Oakland or San Diego to Maui $203 Each Way

  Jeff

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:28 am

  Starting June 17, Hawaiian Air is adding two new flights, and for a limited time, is offering a super deal.  Many of you have asked for cheaper summer fares from the Bay Area, and frankly it isn’t going to get better than this.  The inaugural pricing can save you $300 or more round trip over alternative flights. Airline:  Hawaiian Air. Price:  $203 one-way (based on $214 fare, less 5% affiliate discount). Availability:  Excellent at this time.  Weekday flights only.  Other days $25 additional. Note:  I’m watching for matching from Alaska Air.  At this point they have…

• Last Minute Valentines Day in Hawaii

  Jeff

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:21 pm

  If you’re looking to spend Valentine’s Day in Hawaii, here’s a deal from Pleasant Holidays that’s too good to pass up to Honolulu, Maui or Kauai. $189 per person, fly round-trip to Hawaii, including Hertz rental car for 3 days (hotel not included). $225 per person, fly round-trip to Hawaii and stay 3 nights at one of their partner hotels (car rental not included). Valid for travel between San Francisco/ Los Angeles and Honolulu/Maui, and between San Francisco and Kauai. Travel can also commence in Hawaii for California bound locals. Otherwise, Hawaii airfare deals…

• Frommers Travel Show Interview

  Jeff

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:05 am

  If you didn’t hear the live broadcast, we were featured on Frommers Travel show Sunday. You can listen to the interview here or on the show’s site. It’s at the beginning of the broadcast.  Arthur and Pauline produce a savvy two-hour national weekly radio show heard in 100 markets. Arthur and I discussed: Summer and Christmas vacation strategies. Finding the cheapest airfares. Getting the best accommodation deals. Where car rentals fit into your planning. Extended interview on Frommers website: After recording the interview, Arthur asked me to provide their listeners and…

• Don’t Get Stung Inter-Island

  Jeff

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:05 am

  If you plan on flying inter-island, here’s a word to the wise, watch out.  It’s a new era in Hawaii transportation, and this isn’t good news for visitors (or those of us who live here). We had two years of affordable airfares within the islands, which has now come to an abrupt halt.  The good deals started with the entry of Mesa’s Go! Airlines, and was further aided with the entry of Mokulele.  Unfortunately, however, Mokulele decided to call it quits recently, which returned Hawaii to the two-airline duopoly of Hawaiian and Go!.  Island Air remains a relatively…

• LAX to Hawaii Market Heating Up

  Jeff

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am

  Earlier this week, I posted an unpublished price of $145 each way on Hawaiian Air, through early March. Delta has now joined in with a $152 fare ($325 round trip, all-inclusive). While this still isn’t as good as what we saw last year, it is starting to give me hope for renewed competition and better fares for the mid-April through mid-June Spring season. Airline: Delta Airlines. Price: Approx. $325 round trip (all-inclusive). Availability: through mid-March. How to find dates: I used Travelocity flexible date search, then went to delta.com. Comments. Subscribe to our email updates.

• 
  tripwolf | blog

• Beyond the book – tripwolf’s iPhone app

  adena

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:35 am

  tripwolf iPhone travel guides improve on the go! tripwolf brings you the newest kind of travel guide.  You’ll have access to our entire travel guide library, complete with travel tips from our community, as well as our awesome Footprint and Marco Polo guidebook content.  All this, without any roaming costs! Just download and go, even if you don’t have WiFi while you’re traveling. You can download city travel guides, or even guides by region or country.  We offer a free version of each guide, as well as a premium guide, where you’ll find our best content,as well as…

• Featured profile – Andreapog

  adena

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:01 am

  tripwolf user Andreapog (Andrea Posada) has decided to share some of her amazing photos with tripwolf.  Andrea, like many of us, expresses her love of travel through capturing and sharing beautiful profiles of people and cities she loves.  We are happy to feature some of her photos from Portugal. Feel free to check out her gallery, or contact her to share your love! More photos, and the story in her own words… “The fado music from Portugal inspired me to visit the city in black and white.  This old tradition remindss me of the old port capital, with old, cracking paved streets…

• Where to Eat: Trattoria Il Giova

  adena

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:53 am

  Last night I had a dream about this place – but it was more of a nightmare… The luscious filetti were deep fried and tough, and the home-made ravioli shaped like mezzaluna never showed up. Does this make me a food addict? Perhaps, more on that later, and more to drool over, now. I’m talking about Trattoria Il Giova, a small cozy restaurant along Borgo La Croce, an easy walk from the center of Florence. The house wine is served in unlabeled bottles – grown and produced by the owners themselves.  I have never found more honest food at a restaurant.  Each dish is…

• tripwolf at Online Revealed 2010

  adena

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:40 am

  I was lucky enough to fall in with Canada’s edgy e-commerce crowd at the Online Revealed conference, held in Montreal’s Delta Centre-Ville this week. Produced by a couple of chicks e-marketing and radonicrodgersdesign+marketing, this was the 5th year of Online Revealed.   The design of the conference is in its name – any person in the travel industry with an online persona will benefit from the great discussions all aimed at revealing the secrets of being successful online! There were discussions lead by leaders in the travel industry, such as Jim Brody from tripadvisor,…

• Where to Eat: Kuma’s Corner, Chicago

  maglayas

  27 Jan 2010 | 11:42 am

  My hometown of Chicago is basically one big homage to meat. What do you expect from the former capital of meatpacking and slaughterhouses? If you love meat, every day is your lucky day when you’re in Chicago and my favorite place to start is with a burger at Kuma’s Corner. Photo of Pantera Burger courtesy of lobstar28's Flickr stream As if burgers weren’t awesome enough as it is, Kuma’s Corner a) dares to put them on a pretzel roll, and b) names them after heavy metal bands. F–k yeah! Normally I’m not a big fan of gimmicks, but I’ll make an…

• 
  Amenity Watch

• Eco Chic

  Raef Harrison

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:56 pm

  “Eco” and “luxury” are terms often incongruous with each other. Going green has traditionally meant skimping on comfort, and enjoying plush amenities has meant turning a cold shoulder to the environment.  It is, however, 2010 and the two avenues of thinking are starting to come together, with exquisite results. These days the words ‘eco’ and ‘luxury’ go together as easily as ‘The Fairmont’ and ‘Lexus Hybrid’. The Grand Dame of luxury resorts, the Fairmont San Francisco has teamed with Lexus to create their “Eco Is…

• Old City, Modern Art in Poland

  Raef Harrison

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:15 am

  Fan of the ultra-mod? Want to be part of an art project? Want a complimentary iPhone during your stay? Blow Up Hall 5050 in Poznan, one of Poland’s oldest cities is calling your name.  The concept behind Blow Up 5050 is that 50% of every project should be art, and this place takes that concept to heart. To check in, you don’t pick a room you pick a card, which then corresponds with an aptly decorated room. You could tap into the animalistic in a zebra-striped suite, empty your mind in a sterile white room, or retain a bit of normality (boring?) in a more traditional space.  So…

• One-stop Shopping at Caribbean Resorts’ New Online Grocery Store

  Liz Webber

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:36 pm

  Looking for the ingredients for the perfect picnic lunch on your Caribbean getaway? How about some snacks to keep the kids fueled up for a day at the beach? With Divi Resorts’ new online grocery service, you can order all the essentials before you even leave home, and find your fridge stocked when you arrive. Divi recently introduced the service at Divi Little Bay in St. Maarten and Divi Southwinds and Divi Heritage in Barbados, with plans to expand to the brand’s other six resorts. With a quick click on each hotel’s website, guests can pick from a range of meals, snacks, drinks, and…

• Elvis Lives On

  Raef Harrison

  28 Jan 2010 | 7:13 am

  January 18th is a day of infamy. Although not a national holiday (yet) it is, for many, a day of observance. For it marks the birth of a king. The King of Rock ‘N Roll. While Elvis’ birthday may have already come and gone, Music City is ready to keep the party going in honor of the King turning 75. And the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, where Elvis recorded some of his greatest hits, is planning the party. The Nashville hotel is going all out with a specially-themed package sure to delight the die-hardest Elvin fan. The package includes luxury accommodations fit for a King, a private…

• A Luxurious Bundle of Joy

  Raef Harrison

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:23 am

  Having a child is a wonderful thing. A stressful, busy, nerve wracking, wonderful thing. Amidst all the preparation for an addition to your family, it can be easy to forget about taking care of other things. Like yourself. Luckily, the hotel industry feels your labor pains. Expectant couples now have relaxing options to take their final vacation alone, and pamper themselves before the big day.  But where should you go before the big day? The Westin Kierland Resort in Arizona has created the “Bundle of Joy” Babymoon package, with partnerships with SpOILed Mamma skin care products…

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  DISney News Stories - wdwinfo.com

• Disney plans Enchanted sequel

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:26 pm

  Disney is making plans for a sequel to the popular movie "Enchanted."

• Changes to character dining at Cinderella's Royal Table

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:58 pm

  Beginning February 7, guests dining at Cinderella's Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom will have a new Fairytale Dining experience.

• Special occasion voicemails at Walt Disney World hotels

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:54 pm

  If you're celebrating a special occasion during your stay at Walt Disney World, you will now receive a voicemail from a Disney character on your hotel room phone.

• New dining experience at Victoria & Albert's

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:22 pm

  Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is offering a new dining experience to their guests beginning February 5.

• Stuntman injured in Walt Disney World show

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:37 pm

  One of the stunt performers from the Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show was injured during a performance Wednesday afternoon.

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  L.A. Times - USC Trojans

• No. 2 Stanford women defeat USC, 77-39

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Jayne Appel became the Cardinal's all-time rebounding leader. Jayne Appel became the Cardinal's all-time rebounding leader.

• For one group of fans, USC-UCLA is a religious experience

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  A long-ago prank at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo led to a long-term commitment to the Bruins-Trojans basketball showdown. A long-ago prank at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo led to a long-term commitment to the Bruins-Trojans basketball showdown.

• USC's Nikola Vucevic takes a hands-on approach and it pays off

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Trojans center's strong tip-in with 20.6 seconds to play leads to USC's 54-49 win over Stanford. Trojans center's strong tip-in with 20.6 seconds to play leads to USC's 54-49 win over Stanford.

• Up next for USC: Feb. 14 vs. UCLA

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Trojans haven't beaten Bruins at the Galen Center (0-3) since it opened for the 2006-07 season. Up next VS. UCLA Feb. 14, 7 p.m., Prime Ticket The Bruins no doubt remember their 21-point spanking at Pauley Pavilion last month, their worst loss to the Trojans since 1945. But UCLA has won four of six since then, and the Trojans haven't beaten the Bruins at the Galen Center (0-3) since it opened for the 2006-07 season.

• USC's Marcus Johnson could be zeroing in on an NBA career

  6 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Trojans' senior forward, who wears No. 0 to represent his having started from scratch after transferring from Connecticut, is gaining attention from scouts with his athleticism, defense and signature dunks. Watch Marcus Johnson, No. 0 in USC's lineup, the one with the ear-to-ear smile.

• 
  Writing Roads

• Who needs statistics when we’ve got reality.

  Julie Roads

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:24 am

  While many of my friends spent our junior year abroad in exotic places like Florence, Tanzania, Nepal, Paris and Argentina, I opted for the wilds of St. Louis, MO. My main gig was volunteering at a domestic violence agency where I researched and wrote the organization’s history, taught dating violence prevention in local schools and worked on the 24-hour crisis hotline. And in order to do this terrifying and terribly important hotline work, I went through an intense and long training program. I learned why women stay in abusive relationships when it seems so obvious to the rest of us…

• If only my brain were pregnant.

  Julie Roads

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:04 am

  You know how everyone makes all the usual jokes about pregnancy and food cravings? Pickles and ice cream will always be hilarious, but these cravings are a serious force to be reckoned with. If I could bottle them, I’d be rich. I remember distinctly a feeling of almost possession when I was craving something. Like the baby was calling for protein and my stomach wanted carbs and my bones wanted calcium and my mouth wanted butter and salt – so I ended up eating dark sourdough toast with a 1/4 stick of butter, feta cheese and smoked salmon, sprinkled with jalapeno stuffed green…

• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo meets Writing Roads (another girl with a tattoo or three)

  Julie Roads

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:47 am

  I’m bad at picking books to read at the bookstore, you know, when it’s just me and shelves of beautifully packaged words. Apparently I missed that gene. I get swayed by the cover or the fact that the author’s name kind of looks like mine and I’m blinded by the dream of being published. Anywho, the ones I pick up on my own almost always disappoint. Thank the good lord, I’m very good at taking book orders recommendations. I might be a little annoying about it too. I ask a million questions, like: Do any animals get hurt? (I literally can’t take it) and Is it…

• Reason 731 to hire a copywriter or The demise of Steve Jobs

  Julie Roads

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am

  First, watch this video (or at least the first 30 seconds)… My dear friend and tech writer extraordinaire, Ron Miller, posted this video on his blog and sent me over to see it. And I have to tell you, I didn’t think it was funny at all. I was embarrassed for Steve Jobs and the whole Apple team. I cringed. NOT because of the name of the new product (personally, I think this whole hooha about feminine hygiene products is really, really stupid) and NOT because Mr. Jobs looks silly in that turtleneck with those bright white sneakers. (You’re a bazillionaire, Stevie, try a little…

• What to do when it just won’t fit.

  Julie Roads

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am

  I haven’t been sleeping well. Even when I appear to sleep well (ie. I go to sleep at 10 and wake up at 6), I open my eyes and feel like I’ve been fighting a war all night. I’d say 99% of the time, I wake up drenched in a cold sweat. Last night at some point I had that horrible feeling like you’re plummeting to the ground that jerks you awake and freaks the shit out of you. And then, there are the dreams. My dreams are long, intricate, heavily detailed and almost always remembered in the morning with startling focus. Also, many of these night visions are recurring. Not…

• 
  Published and Profitable

• Consistent writing creates great content a little at a time, as the Heath Brothers show

  Roger C. Parker

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:19 am

  Tuesday’s writing tip of the week The best way to create great content is to write consistently; as shown by a partial view of the monthly columns in Fast Company written by the Heath Brothers, authors of Made to Stick and Switch: How to Change when Change is Hard. Consistent writing quickly builds equity & ability It never ceases to amaze me, for example, how quickly monthly columns add up, creating content that can be revisited, repurposed, and reused in numerous ways. (Depending, of course, on the contractual relationship you have with the media where the content first appears.)…

• Hints for researching case studies for your book

  Roger C. Parker

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:37 pm

  Monday’s book planning tip for authors If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where do I start researching my book?”, you’ll want to attend this week’s Published & Profitable Tuesday Topic teleclass, Author Guide to Case Studies. I’ll describe a 3-step process for identifying the topics you want to research, locating resources, and organizing the results. The ideas and hand-outs I’ll be offering can save you time researching case studies, adding information, specificity, and story to your book. My Author Guide to Case Studies call takes place…

• Research tips for authors adding case studies to their books

  Roger C. Parker

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:54 am

  Friday’s upcoming event for authors Authors looking for research tips for adding case studies to their books and marketing materials will want to attend next week’s Author Guide to Case Studies teleclass call. I’ll be describing a 3-step process that can save you time researching and writing your case studies while adding information and story-power to your book. My Author Guide to Case Studies teleclass call takes place Tuesday, February 9, at 4:00 PM EST. I’ll be distributing note-taking sheets and a copy of my Case Study Planner Worksheet. There will be an…

• Increase web site conversions with Pam Foster’s 7-step ContentClear method

  Roger C. Parker

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:01 am

  Thursday’s profit tip for authors Authors interested in increasing  back end sales can learn a lot by studying Pam Foster’s 7-Step ContentClear Web Site Optimization Methodweb site optimization plan shown at left. Located one click from the first sentence on her home page, Pam Foster’sWeb Content System engages visitors and moves them towards a purchase while outlining the 7-step process she follows with her clients. It’s a brilliant strategy, and her execution is flawless, as you’d expect from a Senior Web Content Provider, Content Strategy Consultant, and…

• Web marketing tips from a NY Times best-selling author

  Roger C. Parker

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:47 pm

  Wednesday’s book marketing tip of the week for authors Authors looking for proven web marketing tips and examples can learn a lot from New York Times bestselling author Sharon Drew Morgen’s Publishing Choices web site. Here are 4 of the lessons her site teaches; you may discover others. Simple URLs that sell are still available The first lesson involves choosing a website URL that clearly describes and positions what’s being offered. Like the title of her NY-Times best-selling book, Selling with Integrity, Sharon Drew’s website address is simple and to the point. The…

• 
  Las Vegas Logue

• Entertainment at Bally’s Las Vegas

  Cristina

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:21 am

  Bally’s Las Vegas is an excellent place if you are looking for classical Vegas Entertainment as it is home to the Strip’s most critically acclaimed topless revue - Donn Arden’s Jubilee. And if you fancy having fun and having the opportunity to win interesting things to bring back home, don’t miss The Price Is [...]

• Restaurants at Bally’s Las Vegas

  Cristina

  2 Feb 2010 | 12:06 am

  Bally’s Las Vegas offers anything a food lover wants: from Mexican fare to traditional Italian food, Japanese delicacies, real American steaks and everything else in between. Al Dente – Italian Al Dente is open from Wednesday until Sunday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. It is located at the Casino Level. The average entrée [...]

• Bally’s Las Vegas

  Cristina

  1 Feb 2010 | 1:11 am

  Bally’s Las Vegas is a hotel and casino, located on the Las Vegas Strip. It is owned by by Harrah’s Entertainment. The hotel is best known for the neon lighting wrapped around the covered moving sidewalk which brings guests from Las Vegas Boulevard to the entrance of the casino. Year opened The hotel opened on December [...]

• Things to do at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

  Cristina

  29 Jan 2010 | 1:36 am

  Treasure Island (TI) is home not only to excellent entertainment and great restaurants , but also offers its guests the possibility to spend quality time at the pool, indulge in some shopping, spend a relaxing day at the spa or play golf. Pool & Cabanas TI is home to an outdoor heated pool and a [...]

• Nightlife at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

  Cristina

  27 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Treasure Island Hotel and Casino (TI) is home to excellent bars and a posh nightclub where you can dance the night away or just relax with an excellent cocktail and your friends beside you. Christian Audigier the Nightclub It is the indoor/outdoor nightclub at TI, open from Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. [...]

• 
  Avis

• Road trip to Stonehenge

  GNorman

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:56 am

  I recently decided to visit one of this country’s most mystical landmarks, Stonehenge. And as I live in London, I decided to see what else was on offer in that area, because I rarely get to explore this country’s heritage outside of the city. On this road trip I discovered the marvellous array of attractions and historic sites around Stonehenge itself. I also found a recently renovated English tradition along the way. Coming from London the journey involves taking the M3 south before heading West on the A303. It is here, near Basingstoke, that I discovered the reborn English tradition…

• Welcome to the new look We Try Harder blog!

  NMountfield

  22 Jan 2010 | 5:46 am

  With 2010 already upon us we are pleased to unveil the upgraded Avis We Try Harder blog, including a fresh look to go with the new decade. We have been working behind the scenes updating systems so the site runs faster and along with the design improvements, helping to make it quicker and easier for you to find what you are looking for and generally making it a better blogging experience for you! We have also added links to our Twitter page, where you can keep up to date with all our latest Tweets. Don’t worry about losing track of your favourite posts, as all of our old blog posts and…

• Avis’ NEW office at London City Airport

  LLillis

  15 Jan 2010 | 3:11 am

  As part of the team at Avis London City I am proud to announce that we are now the premier car rental company for London City Airport, and will be for the next 7 years. This means that Avis now are the only car rental company with access to the main front car park and our customers do not have to take the lengthy walk to the long stay car park to collect their rental car. We are also excited as we have had a brand new office, which is situated just next to the terminal building and has a Traffic Master and Flight Information Screen to help get your journey off to the best possible start. Also…

• Travelling around Egypt

  RWhite

  13 Jan 2010 | 6:42 am

  I recently returned home from a holiday around Egypt and, seeing as I haven’t written on the blog for a while, I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about it. I covered a lot of ground in my 16 days there and I found it to be an incredibly diverse and rewarding country to visit. Below is a summary of my top 5 destinations: Cairo Makes the list for the Pyramids of Giza alone. But, while visiting the pyramids will place a tick on anyone’s “places to visit in my lifetime” list, there is so much more to Cairo than the world’s only remaining Ancient Wonder…

• Highways Agency – Be prepared when driving in winter!

  VWilson

  5 Jan 2010 | 2:50 am

  With wind, rain, ice and snow – winter can throw the very worst at us. So to help make sure you are prepared when travelling by car this season, here’s some helpful advice from the Highways Agency. For a smoother journey check your vehicle is ready for winter. Regularly servicing and checking your vehicle is in good running order before setting out, will reduce your chances of breaking down on the road. It’s worth making these checks regularly – especially before a long journey: • Check and replace the anti-freeze in the radiator • Make sure your lights are clean and check the…

• 
  Best Western

• Teaching kids geography

  onthegowithamy

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:59 pm

  When the National Geographic Society surveyed 18- to 24-year-old Americans in 2006 to find out what they knew about the world, only 37 percent could find Iraq on a map, despite the fact that U.S. troops have been in that country since 2003, according to the Harvard alumni magazine. Places closer to home didn't fare much better: 50 percent couldn't locate New York, the country's third largest state.I'm determined to teach my children that there's a world outside their own community. Travel can certainly help with that but I'd also like them to be able to look at a map and identify states,…

• Big cities on a budget: $150 or $200 a day?

  onthegowithamy

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:34 pm

  In less than two months my kids get a week off from school. Spring break!We're planning to head East for a whirlwind tour of our nation's best big cities. We'll fly into Boston, head for New York, and then end up in D.C.As usual we'll be traveling on a tight budget. But how tight should we make it? $150 a day? $200 a day? This needs to cover food, lodging, activities, and transportation.What seems reasonable?

• Where I want to bring my kids next: Oaxaca

  onthegowithamy

  7 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am

  I have always wanted to visit Oaxaca, the southern Mexico state stretching between the mountains of Chiapas and the Pacific Ocean. The rich moles sauces, the colonial capitol, the ancient ruins, the lazy beach towns--all of these things have called out to me.After a friend brought her two children to Oaxaca the city and told me about taking a cooking class, I started to think about bringing my kids. And then I read a story highlighting Oaxaca's many kid-friendly attractions in the San Francisco Chronicle and now I'm convinced I must go. When? Not sure. But it has officially been put on my…

• Truckee, Calif.: A snowy spot for families

  onthegowithamy

  31 Jan 2010 | 9:55 pm

  Truckee was once a place you stopped to fill up your car with gas on the way to one of the many ski resorts that circle Lake Tahoe. But now skiers are staying over night in this small town, located about 30 minutes from Reno.With a handful of great places to bed down, a happening restaurant scene, and a main drag lined with old Western facades, Truckee offers more charming delights than you'll find at any of the ski resort villages.My family recently spent two days in Truckee, and we discovered a great places were travelers can stay, play, and eat.Stay: With feather beds, an outdoor hot tub,…

• A few tips on kids and ski gear

  onthegowithamy

  31 Jan 2010 | 4:01 am

  We're in the midst of our second trip to the snow this year, and I've learned a few things when it comes to kids and ski gear:1) Dress kids in layers: Children are miserable when they're cold--and when they're hot. Dress them in layers. On the top, put them in a long underwear top, a wool sweater or fleece shirt, and a waterproof, well-insulated ski jacket. On the bottom, they need waterproof pants or bib tops, and likely a pair of long underwear.2) Wool socks are a must: Tiny toes freeze without them. Soft, thin wool socks are most comfortable. Never double up with two pairs, or else they'll…

• 
  Boeing

• Up in the air

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:18 pm

  First flight of the 747-8! The -8 Freighter took to the skies at 12:39 p.m. Seattle time on Monday, February 8, 2010. It's all just a little bittersweet for me. Obviously, I worked hard in my previous role to sell this airplane, and I'm extremely excited to see it flying. But since I'm still in Asia following the Singapore Air Show, and visiting customers, I didn't get to see this historic flight in person. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll get to see this great airplane fly many times in the future as we begin our flight test program. 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein and Capt. Tom Imrich were at the…

• Gonna fly now

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:50 pm

  The first flight of the 747-8 Freighter is set for Monday, February 8, at 10 a.m. Seattle time. We completed taxi tests on Saturday, the last functional test planned before the -8 flies. We're told that the airplane reached a top speed of 90 knots (103.5 mph, 166.6 kph) during the tests, with Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein at the controls. The 747-8 during taxi tests in Everett on Saturday. We'll be making available a live Webcast of the takeoff and landing at this site. That site will be available 24 hours before the flight. You can check out more information about the first flight at…

• I gotta feeling

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:30 pm

  SINGAPORE - I just finished up my 2nd Singapore Air Show. What a week! Things for me got started with the ATW (Air Transport World) awards. Air New Zealand took home the big prize, “Airline of the Year, and Air Tran Airways won the “Airline Market Leadership Award.” Perhaps the highlight of the ATW event was the amazing sight of Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, up on stage taking part in a “haka,” the traditional Maori dance ceremony. Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe (on the right in the foreground) does a haka at the ATW Awards in Singapore. Photo courtesy: Air Transport World At my press…

• Heat of the moment

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm

  SINGAPORE - I delivered my media briefing here on Tuesday at a very hot, muggy and busy air show. A lot of the news coverage so far has focused on our outlook for the next couple of years - essentially that 2010 will be another year where we won't see a huge demand in terms of aircraft sales, but that we see this year as a year of recovery, with 2011 the year airlines return to profitability, and 2012 when we expect to see a rebound in demand. I also had the opportunity to "co-host" a segment on CNBC Asia's Squawk Box this week. As I mentioned on the show, Asia is the hot aviation market…

• GOL!!

  1 Feb 2010 | 11:31 am

  SINGAPORE - I'm at the air show and getting ready for my press briefing here. There's a lot to talk about as always and I hope to fill you in as time permits. Meantime, Boeing reached a pretty neat milestone just recently, that I couldn’t pass up telling you about. Over the holiday break in December, at our Commercial Delivery Center at Boeing Field, two flight crews from Brazilian airline, GOL, boarded a pair of white and orange liveried Next-Generation 737-800s and jetted off to Brazil. Why was that a milestone? The first of those two airplanes to depart was the 3,133rd Next-Generation…

• 
  Delta

• Employees Celebrate Another Merger Milestone

  Joanne S.

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:42 pm

  January 30th marked another significant milestone in our merger and to mark the occasion we gathered at LAX with the crew and some very special customers for the last “official” NW departure. Employees & their families fly on NW #2470 NW 2470 departed for LAS (on time I might add) with a crew of five and about 20 reservations and technology department employees (some accompanied by family members) who purchased tickets well in advance and traveled from around the system to be there. It was pretty impressive that this group of dedicated employees didn’t even stay to enjoy LAS —…

• Delta Museum’s Aircraft History Now Live!

  Marie Force

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:37 pm

  Check out the new, expanded Aircraft section of the Delta Museum’s website! All pages are now live, and full of aircraft history from the Delta Archives. You can learn about each type of plane Delta has flown:  view unique photos, original documents, and links to video and related websites. Shown here, Delta Douglas DC-10 (N603DA) on a rainy night in Atlanta in the early 1970s. Thank you for your earlier comments & suggestions! We are working on incorporating them. Keep sharing your ideas & let me know if you see anything that needs a fact check. Enjoy! Marie Force…

• Latest “Cubicle Travel Tips” from Delta Vacations

  Sean C

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:58 am

  How do you travel for a full week in one carry on? We’ll show you how in this edition of Cubicle Travel Tips, plus other useful travel information you need before you pack. Click here to view the embedded video. Do you have other useful travel tips? Share them below or tweet them @deltablog. Sean C, Delta Vacations

• Always a Tiger…

  Rachael Rensink

  26 Jan 2010 | 2:28 pm

  Last Thursday, the Delta team in Detroit enjoyed an amazing afternoon with members of the Detroit Tigers when they stopped by DTW to mingle with more than 135 employees and customers as part of their Winter Caravan. The Winter Caravan takes Tigers players, coaches, and broadcasters across the region for two days as they visit with fans. Delta is the official airline of the Tigers and the DTW visit was one of their first stops. During the almost two-hour visit, Tigers players helped DTW staff make boarding announcements and scanned boarding passes for customers as they helped board flights to…

• Spring Break Vacations

  Katherine L

  26 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am

  Now is the perfect time to escape winter and head to the beach! Some of the best spring break destinations are Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and Mexico, where you can find all sorts of adventures and activities. But what are the most fun things to do? I first took a look at the top 10 places to go on a sunny beach vacation, and then put together the coolest things to do in these places. If you are looking for spring break fun, check out these travel tips for these top 10 popular vacation spots in Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and Mexico. And, as you are planning your spring break…

• 
  Garmin Blog

• Peg’s Posts: New Garmin desktop wallpapers

  Garmin

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am

  Wish you were there? If you’re stuck inside cursing the snow, wind, groundhogs and anything else keeping spring at bay, improve your outlook with the latest Garmin desktop wallpapers. Download the Team Garmin set and show your argyle pride as they compete this week in the Tour of Qatar. I’m going with the beachside running shots in hopes I can teleport myself or otherwise soothe the agony of marathon training through a Midwest winter. My training plan calls for 10 miles today. It’s 9 degrees here. Minus 5 with wind chill. Do I scratch, suck it up, or suffer through a treadmill run?

• A heartfelt thanks to Forerunner for monitoring health

  Garmin

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  Used by world-class cyclists and record-holding distance runners, the heart-rate monitors on our fitness devices aren't just for finding your optimal training exertion. These excerpts from an email sent my Charles from Phoenix sum up the importance of tracking your health and wellness. I am writing simply to say thank you. I am a 70-year-old who uses your Forerunner 305 daily as I run the hills and golf courses that are just outside my door here in Phoenix. Back on October 1, I fainted while out on a short hike due to a heart arrhythmia. I have rheumatic heart disease as a result of having…

• Ask Garmin: How do I use Voice Studio to add voices to my nuvi?

  Garmin

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:49 am

  When we announced Garmin's new Voice Studio at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, we turned heads, raised eyebrows and got a lot of people talking ... as the voice on their own nüvi. And because Voice Studio is a free and easy way to customize your nüvi, you can record your own voice, or have your kids give you directions, or let your spouse navigate, or practice your impressions to surprise and impress your friends - or a little of everything. So because the answers to the most popular questions - "How much does it cost" and "How long does it take" - were "nothing" and "not long," the…

• Garmin Connect: Optimize performance by updating device and upload software

  Garmin

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:23 am

  Sometimes updates to devices and improvements to the site may slip past even the most diligent of Garmin Connect users. Today we want to highlight the importance of keeping your ANT Agent and/or Garmin Communicator Plugin software updated with the latest and greatest, as well as encourage you to keep your device up-to-date with the latest firmware. With each release of upload software there are important updates that may correct bugs or add features that you will find useful and beneficial. As a rule, updating your device firmware as well as the upload software will make for smoother, faster…

• Jake's Journal: New products are perfect cure for January jet lag

  Garmin

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pm

  In a month's time, I covered four time zones for work trips, flying to Chicago, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Orlando to talk about Garmin's latest and greatest. And here's one of the great things about working for a company that covers so many different markets and activities - those conversations never got old. In Chicago, with temps in the teens, I spent the afternoon with American cycling star Christian Vande Velde, who told the crowd packed into the Garmin store on Michigan Avenue how he and his Garmin-Transitions teammates use the Edge 705 and Edge 500 in the world's biggest cycling…

• 
  Google

• Introducing Google Buzz

  A Googler

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am

  We've blogged before about our thoughts on the social web, steps we've taken to add social features to our products, and efforts like OpenSocial that propose common tools for building social apps. With more and more communication happening online, the social web has exploded as the primary way to share interesting stuff, tell the world what you're up to in real-time and stay more connected to more people. In today's world of status messages, tweets and update streams, it's increasingly tough to sort through it all, much less engage in meaningful conversations.Our belief is that organizing the…

• Vancouver forecast: light winds, unlimited visibility

  A Googler

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  The view from Whistler Mountain is something everyone should see: a range of rugged mountains, trails of snow, fir trees and placid lakes below. It's changed since I lived there some years back — there are many more houses, and far better chairlifts — but what remains is the rare feeling of being free, in nature, about to tear into peak snow.In time for the Games in Vancouver and Whistler, we're thrilled to be bringing this view to the world through Street View on Google Maps. How were we able to gather imagery at 7,000 feet (2,000 meters)? The Street View team's constant experimenting…

• Our approach to maximizing advertising revenue for online publishers

  A Googler

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:30 am

  All website owners need to pay for the costs of creating content and making it available online. Whether delivering entertainment, products, news, services, social networking or opinions, they need to pay their way by selling advertising or charging their users.Website owners, or "online publishers," span the range from individual bloggers to multinational companies. If they sell advertising, they can do this directly themselves, via their own sales force. Alternatively, they can use an ad network to place ads on the pages of their website. Many publishers use a combination of these methods…

• 2010 Super Bowl: Some search touchdowns

  A Googler

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:29 am

  While 106 American football players sought yardage in the 2010 Super Bowl, millions of people sought information related to the big game from Google search. We looked at some game-day search trends and data* to see what football fans were searching for this year.Most searched-for teamTo the victor of this year's big game went the search spoils: The New Orleans Saints captured both the NFL championship and the lion's share of Super Bowl team searches in 2010.Most searched-for playerFor leading the New Orleans Saints to their 31–17 win over the Indianapolis Colts — with 288 yards, two…

• Love and the Super Bowl

  A Googler

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:51 pm

  If you watched the Super Bowl this evening you'll have seen a video from Google called "Parisian Love". In fact you might have watched it before, because it's been on YouTube for over three months. We didn't set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a TV ad for search. Our goal was simply to create a series of short online videos about our products and our users, and how they interact. But we liked this video so much, and it's had such a positive reaction on YouTube, that we decided to share it with a wider audience. If you like it too, we hope you'll watch the others. Enjoy. Posted by Eric…

• 
  Have Kids Will Travel

• Savoring the Simple Pleasures of Paris

  Catherine

  14 Jan 2010 | 2:00 pm

  Aimie O’Shaughnessy, editor of the wonderful Ciao Bambino, recently tapped my shoulder to write a guest post for their Paris Week feature. It doesn’t take much to convince me to reminisce about my family’s summer in Paris. That city has a way of gripping you and seeping into your soul so that it is never [...]

• The Final Frontier is Open for Business

  Catherine

  11 Dec 2009 | 7:03 pm

  Bored of the beach? Tired of the ski hills? Already visited the great cities, seven wonders and hotspots around the world? Here’s a cure for the been-there-done-that blues: space travel! Yup, space tourism has finally become a reality where regular folk like you and I can blast off beyond the stratosphere, experience the thrill of zero [...]

• Getting Along While Aloft

  Catherine

  7 Dec 2009 | 8:00 am

  A recent decision by Southwest Airlines to eject a mother and toddler from a flight because the kid was being too noisy has reignited an age-old debate about traveling with children. How to deal with unruly kids, and who’s responsible for managing what can be a testy situation at the best of times? Flying with a [...]

• Enough With the Whining About Kids on Planes

  Catherine

  4 Dec 2009 | 7:12 am

  Everyone loves to knock airline travel. The bland (or non-existent) food, lack of legroom, lost luggage and security hassles are all ripe joke fodder, but there’s one subject that generates more punch than punchline. Kids on a plane. This topic has been in the hot seat yet again due to the recent headlines about Southwest Airlines [...]

• TravelKiddy Has It All in the Bag

  Catherine

  1 Dec 2009 | 8:13 pm

  I was just diving into some research for a post on kids’ travel toys and activities when I stumbled upon a company that puts together great compact yet comprehensive kits for this purpose – TravelKiddy. Now, there are quite a lot of travel packs for children out there in the stores and available online, but most [...]

• 
  National Geographic Traveler Magazine

• Photo of the Week: Santa Fe

  Download this photo of a colorful fish pond in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to your desktop.

• Trip Lit: Book Review Column

  Don George reviews Settled in the Wild by Susan Hand Shetterly. Plus: Novels about life during wartime, best European fiction anthology, and more. Science fiction - Arts - Literature - Fiction - Online Writing

• World in Focus Photo Contest Winners

  Amateur shutterbugs from around the world entered our long-running annual contest—21 years and counting! This year, it attracted more than 4,100 entrants who submitted over 12,000 photos. These ten winners rose to the top.

• Great Winter Escapes

  Got the winter blues? These 15 surprising getaways will help you leave the cold and crowds behind.

• Presented By:

• 
  Mashable!

• Google Buzz: The Official Demo [VIDEO]

  Adam Ostrow

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am

  Google has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space: Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days.We’re still digesting all of the implications of Buzz (and will have more coverage throughout the day), but in the meantime, here’s the two-minute demo of the product in action both on the Web and via mobile that Google showed off during today’s press conference:What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google social product? A…

• BREAKING: Google Goes Social with Google Buzz

  Ben Parr

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am

  It’s official: Google has just announced Google Buzz, its newest push into the social media foray. This confirms earlier reports of Gmail integrating a social status feature.On stage revealing the new product was Bradley Horowitz, Google’s vice president for product management. While introducing the product, Mr. Horowitz focused on the human penchant for sharing experiences and the social media phenomenon of wanting to share it in real time. These two key themes were core philosophies behind Google Buzz.“It’s becoming harder and harder to find signal in the…

• Facebook Kills Lexicon, Focuses on Analytics for Page Admins

  Samuel Axon

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:20 am

  Facebook has removed its Lexicon analytics app, blogger Steve Rubel noticed last night.Don’t know what Lexicon was? That’s OK, a lot of people didn’t; it was announced very quietly, but it was a neat tool. You could use Lexicon to see how frequently, and when, certain terms were trending in status updates, just like you can use Google Trends to do the same with search terms.For example, our own Stan Schroeder was a bit perplexed a couple years back when the word “sex” had a massive spike in usage on May 30, 2008. It was the launch day of the Sex and the City…

• 7 Ways to Promote Your Offline Event Using Social Media

  Susan Payton

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am

  Susan Payton is the President of Egg Marketing & Public Relations, an internet marketing firm. She blogs at The Marketing Eggspert Blog, and teaches marketing courses at Marketing EggSchool. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.We all know about Tweetups and online events, but what about events that you didn’t specifically invite the Twitterati to attend? Conferences, meetings and parties are all events that might not have started online, but which can definitely benefit from online promotion and mention.Leverage your offline event with some smart social media marketing. Here are…

• WordPress To Posterous Users: Graduate to a Full Blog

  Jennifer Van Grove

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:57 am

  In an effort to remind you that WordPress can be just as flexible and e-mail-friendly as Posterous, the company has released a Posterous importer for users who want to “graduate” from the mini-blogging site to “a full blog with the features, flexibility and reliability of WordPress.com.”The new WordPress.com utility can be found via the Tools section within the Dashboard. All that’s required to run the import is your Posterous host name, user name and password, and it can import all of the following: posts, tags, comments and images.On the flip side, Posterous…

• 
  Gizmodo

• Your Future Morning View Will Make You Vomit [Augmented Reality]

  Jesus Diaz

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am

  newVideoPlayer(...

• 25 New Ads to Introduce Xfinity to the Masses [PhotoshopContest]

  Adam Frucci

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Have you heard the exciting news?! Comcast is rebranding as Xfinity! We decided to help them out by calling on our lovely readers to create the first Xfinity ads, and I think they did a bang-up...

• Google Buzz on Phones: Location Is the Killer App [Google]

  matt buchanan

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:42 am

  newVideoPlayer(...

• What Is Google Buzz? [Google]

  Mark Wilson

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am

  So what exactly is Google Buzz? Used on a PC or mobile, Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail and Google.com...

• Tower Skins Modernise Ugly Buildings, Generate Energy and Collect Rain Water [Architecture]

  Kat Hannaford

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:20 am

  I'm not sure how I feel about these tower skin concepts, which can turn ugly buildings into modern icons. A lot of the post-war buildings aren't the nicest-looking, but as they say, beauty is in the...

• 
  Engadget

• Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 exhaustedly previewed, screenshotted to death

  Chris Ziegler

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:29 am

  While we patiently wait for the X10 to make its way into retail channels (or, you know, give up and buy something else instead), mobile-review's Eldar Murtazin has come through once again with one of his world-famous eleventy billion page previews rife with thousands of screenshots, which should take you long enough to skim through so that the phone's available by the time you're done. Thing is, you may not want it anymore: Eldar's concerned by the phone's cheap plastic shell, which is particularly alarming in light of the direction competitors are going, and the screen could apparently be…

• Google Buzz takes mobile location services to the next level

  Nilay Patel

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:48 am

  Google just announced that it's bringing some serious location-based integration to its services, all centered around the new Buzz social networking tool built into Gmail. Google's going to do location better than the usual latitude / longitude coordinates -- it's able to snap those to actual place names and then take context-aware actions depending on where you are. The new location services is integrated into the main mobile Google.com search page and the new buzz.google.com page for the iPhone and Android, and into maps for Android, S60, and Windows Mobile. Buzz is rolling out starting…

• Google's Street View snowmobile takes your voyeurism to the Olympic slopes

  Paul Miller

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  There's something deliciously futuristic about the fact that Microsoft and Google are patrolling our roads, documenting their every nook and cranny with large multidirectional cameras strapped to SUVs. But what about the unpaved wilderness? Well, Google's after that too now, with its new Street View snowmobile it's unveiled just in time for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Sure, it's a bit of a gimmick, but also it's surprisingly thrilling to chase down the various slopes in use for the Olympics, and Google Earth even has most everything mapped out in 3D for your aerial viewing pleasure.

• Handheld US rolls out rugged Algiz 7 tablet

  Donald Melanson

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am

  It's been quite a while since an Algiz tablet last popped up on our radar, but Handheld US is now back with another model: the Algiz 7. In addition to a fresh new white enclosure, this one packs a 7-inch touchscreen display, along with a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, and Windows 7 Professional for an OS. To help you out in the field, you'll get a hot-swappable 2400 mAh dual battery pack, built-in GPS, and optional 3G -- not to mention ruggedization to MIL-STD-810G standards. No word on a price just yet, but this one will apparently start shipping next month. Handheld US rolls…

• Screen Grabs: DJ Roomba mixes business with pleasure on Parks and Recreation

  Darren Murph

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:48 am

  Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. An automated vacuum cleaner that pumps out rap while tidying your mess? Call us crazy, but this very well may be the most intelligent thing the United States government has ever done.Continue reading Screen Grabs: DJ Roomba mixes business with pleasure on Parks and RecreationScreen Grabs: DJ Roomba mixes business with pleasure on Parks and Recreation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:48:00 EST. Please…

• 
  Shiny Shiny

• Three fashion pieces inspired by Google...

  Anna Leach

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm

  If Google made t-shirts, is this what they'd look like? Well they might do, three fashion pieces inspired by Google are currently on limited sale in the the Google store. The pieces are by young designers who are finalists in...

• Shiny Valentine's Giveaway: Phillips Sensual massager

  Anna Leach

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:14 am

  As Valentine's Day approaches and our thoughts turn to warm sensual things, we have the good fortune to offer a ShinyShiny reader one particular warm sensual thing - not a hug I'm afraid, but a warm sensual massager, courtesy...

• Canon launches EOS 550D - top range consumer digital SLR

  Anna Leach

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am

  Canon has just released its most advanced consumer digital SLR camera to date. If you are a keen amateur professional, this is probably the best bit of kit you can get your hands on right now. The EOS 550D...

• Canon's sleek new IXUS 130 and 105 cameras, activate with a wink

  Anna Leach

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:04 am

  Glimmering in metallic candy colours, Canon have released a few new additions to their IXUS range of small sleek user-friendly cameras. The IXUS 130 and 105 have some fun features thrown into their slender colourful cases: Both models feature...

• Chatroulette: video-chat with randoms on scary but addictive new site

  Anna Leach

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am

  Everybody's favourite new NSFW video chat website seems to be Chatroulette. Like Skype gone bad, it's a simple video chat service that requires no log-in, no registration and confronts you with a succession of complete strangers in one-on-one video chat....