Travel Blog: News and Briefs
Chart: U.S. Airline Fees
by Michael Yessis | 06.11.08 | 4:43 PM ET
Something to consult when you’re trying to figure out the actual cost of your air travels: Rick Seaney’s handy, eye-opening list of fees charged by domestic airlines. (via Upgrade: Travel Better)
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Yahoo! BuzzAirlines Turn to Cleanliness to Save Money
by Michael Yessis | 06.11.08 | 3:29 PM ET
Southwest has saved $1.6 million since April by washing some of its planes’ engines every night, thereby reducing drag. It’s just one practice airlines have incorporated to fight the rise in fuel prices. Among the other inventive ways airlines are trying to offset skyrocketing costs, according to the New York Times: carrying less water in airplane bathrooms, flying slower and installing lighter seats.
Bush-Bashing No Longer Entertaining for Germans
by Elyse Franko | 06.11.08 | 2:55 PM ET
The German tradition of protesting Dubya’s visits has died an unexpected death after six years. Apparently, they’d rather be tanning.
More Than 4,000 Chinese Children Have Been Named ‘Olympic Games’
by Jim Benning | 06.11.08 | 12:55 PM ET
Or, in Chinese, “Aoyun.” Reports the BBC: “It is not uncommon for Chinese children to be given names of common events and popular slogans—such as Defend China, Build the Nation and Space Travel.” Mr. Space Travel—has a nice ring to it.
Europe’s Top World Music Venues
by Jim Benning | 06.11.08 | 12:18 PM ET
Very handy list in the Guardian.
Should Czech Travelers (and Everyone Else) Leave Their Food at Home?
by Eva Holland | 06.11.08 | 12:10 PM ET
Nearly 10 percent of Czechs take their summer holidays in Croatia, and most of them fill their cars with groceries from home before they cross the border. So when Croatia banned the import of meat and dairy products last week, self-catering Czech travelers were incensed. But, says Guardian blogger Kevin Rushby, tourists who travel with BYO groceries are missing half the fun.
‘Rewilding the West’ for Eco-Tourists
by Joanna Kakissis | 06.11.08 | 11:00 AM ET
The Great Plains may be regarded as something of an “emptied prairie,” at least in my under-appreciated childhood home of North Dakota, but conservationists are transforming the land into an American steppe wonderland for nature lovers, Joshua Kurlantzick writes in The New York Times. The revived prairie is already attracting thousands of tourists keen on prairie wildlife safaris to spot American bison, mountain lions and pronghorn antelope.
Are New York’s Skyscrapers Outdated?
by Julia Ross | 06.11.08 | 10:32 AM ET
That’s the argument this Der Spiegel piece makes, pondering the architectural clash of civilizations between East and West. I, for one, can live without a Burj Dubai in the middle of Manhattan.
Ethicists Are Ready to Kick Some Derrie-Air
by Elyse Franko | 06.10.08 | 3:47 PM ET
It seems some readers didn’t like being the butt of the Derrie-Air campaign’s joke.
Texas Monthly: ‘The State of Our Barbecue Union is Strong’
by Michael Yessis | 06.10.08 | 12:57 PM ET
Global barbecue threat? Ha! Texans shouldn’t be concerned. Texas Monthly has put together an incredibly comprehensive survey of Texas barbecue joints, many of which are arguably not just the best in Texas but the finest in the world. The top 50 are presented alphabetically by city and on a Google map. Coming in at No. 1: Snow’s BBQ in Lexington. Two places with some of the best barbecue I’ve ever tasted made the top five: Smitty’s and Kreuz Market, both in Lockhart.
Related on World Hum:
* Barbecue Goes Global
* Notes from the Barbecue Trail: From Lockhart, Texas to Lexington, North Carolina
Finding James Bond in Jamaica
by Eva Holland | 06.10.08 | 12:11 PM ET
This year marks the centenary of James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s birth. To celebrate, the Telegraph’s Simon Williams headed to Jamaica to spend some time at Goldeneye, the house where 14 Bond novels were written. The resulting essay includes some thought-provoking speculation about how Bond would have coped with modern air travel (particularly “the smoke-detectors in the loos”), and how the island might have inspired 007’s creator. From the story: “Fleming once said, ‘writing makes you more alive to your surroundings.’ Perhaps that’s why three of his books lead 007 to Jamaica. ... Here, anyway, is where all those characters were born.”
Rufus Wainwright’s Least Favorite City?
by Eva Holland | 06.10.08 | 11:31 AM ET
“Toronto. I can’t stand it—the place drives me mad. I’m allowed to say this because I’m Canadian. ... It’s trying to be the New York of the Midwest.” The singer-songwriter also reveals some of his more positive travel experiences and more in this Q&A with The Observer.
New York City is Top U.S. Destination for Foreign Travelers
by Michael Yessis | 06.10.08 | 10:18 AM ET
Last year was a record one for the Big Apple, with 7.6 million international travelers visiting the city—many, no doubt, taking advantage of bargain prices. According to the Commerce Department figures, Los Angeles (2.7 million visitors) was the second most popular place in the United States for international travelers, followed by Miami (2.3 million), San Francisco (2.3 million), Orlando (2.1 million) and Las Vegas (1.7 million).
Couchsurfing Co-opted to Sell Mobile Phones
by Michael Yessis | 06.10.08 | 9:44 AM ET
Guess it was just a matter of time before mainstream marketers hitched themselves to the buzz and good will of Couchsurfing.
High-Speed MagLev Train from Disneyland to Las Vegas Gets $45 Million
by Michael Yessis | 06.09.08 | 3:23 PM ET
The money, which was earmarked in the transportation bill President Bush signed Friday, “will pay for environmental studies for the first leg of the project,” reports the AP. Gizmodo wonders if it’s just greenwashing, since $45 million is but a fraction of what it might cost to build a legitimate high-speed MagLev rail line. I think it’s a fine step forward, and likely not the last. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hails from Nevada, and he’s on the record supporting the project. That’s a powerful ally.
