Tips for traveling in a bad economy

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

If your travels follow the direction of your bank statement, then read quickly and look South. The economic instability of the United States is not isolated to this great land. Over the past few weeks, the long-inflated Euro (to the dollar) has softened providing an ease on the pocketbook for American travelers while the Southern Hemisphere has become an amazing bargain seemingly overnight.

But, there are other destinations that provide more bang for the buck. While they require a bit more effort to reach, they can prove to be big money savers once one arrives. South African Airways and Delta Air Lines both fly nonstop to the African continent and frequently offer discounts (especially from Washington DC and New York where the competition is intense). South America often sees deals emerging from New York and Miami among other cities.

South Africa is the perfect example. As I write this post, the rand is 10 to the dollar, providing an incredible value. We’re talking an entire steak dinner (including an obligatory South African Meritage) for under $10!!! Add up local transportation costs, local hotel rates, and souvenirs and you arrive at a reasonable figure that competes with a European vacation while offering the cache and distinction of a more exotic locale. Imagine perusing the safari lands outside Johannesburg or strolling the V&A Waterfront of Cape Town for only a fraction of the cost. Now is the time to go.

Try a side trip to Namibia for the day or even for a few nights. The local currency is equally priced, and the locals are amazingly welcoming.

Another locale is the incredibly romantic confines of Buenos Aires where the economic instability has yet to catch up leaving prices severely undercut for the American traveler. The Australian Dollar is similar with record lows to the dollar equaling huge savings for Americans.

Even sunny Aruba has gotten in on the action with discounted fares and creative packages to lure Americans closer. They count on almost 70% of their inbound tourism as Americans meaning that when the USA has a cold, Aruba can quickly develop pneumonia so look south for vacation plans this year!

Delta Queen Riverboat to Become a Tennessee Hotel

Continuing with our "awesome hotels made out of weird stuff" series, the Delta Queen riverboat -- normally moored in New Orleans -- is going to become a temporary hotel in Chattanooga.

"The Delta Queen will depart New Orleans Feb. 4," said Vanessa Bloy, the Seattle-based spokeswoman for the 82-year-old boat's owners, Ambassadors International. "She should arrive in Chattanooga by Feb. 8 or 11, depending on river levels. By April, it should be open as a hotel."

The steamboat - the last of the steam-powered, paddlewheel-propelled vessels with an ornate wooden superstructure capable of accommodating passengers on overnight cruises - will be moored at the Tennessee city indefinitely. The lease, whose provisions require its steam system to be maintained and its priceless wooden and brass interior to be left intact, runs until a buyer is found. Asking price: $10 million.

Well, that's relatively nice and cheap. So it shouldn't be sitting in Chattanooga long with this wonderful economic climate rolling. Just a casual ten mil for a historical American landmark. As Harry Phillips, the guy running the steamboat in Chattanooga said, "in this economy, nobody's buying anything." 

Although maybe Citigroup needs some more corporate transportation.

New York City Subway Map Circa 1904

"Simpler times" seems like a bit of an understatement, no? Check out the full size version here, via Digg. And, for comparison, here's a Java enabled edition from February of 2005.

Visa Black Card: Prestigious Disappointment

Visa recently unveiled, "Black Card," a new elite, members-only way to dig yourself into a bottomless financial pit.

And the benefits aren't even that good.

The card is clearly designed to compete with, or at the very least ride the coattails of, the famous black AMEX

However, there are few important differences to point out.

The Visa Black Card can be applied for, while the black AMEX is by invitation only. The Visa only costs $495 a year (compared to $2500 for the AMEX) but comes with, you guessed it, about 1/5 of the benefits. The card allegedly includes a membership to the Priority Pass airport lounge network, but it's not a full membership (it's more like two guest passes).

The card does look cool, is made out of carbon, and comes with trip interruption insurance which can be a really handy benefit in the event of travel complications. Overall, however, frequent travelers would be much better suited shelling out for the Platinum AMEX (only $400 a year with slightly better benefits).

H/T: Upgrade: Travel Better

Surf Ballroom Named Rock & Roll Landmark

Nearly 50 years ago (February 2, 1959 to be exact) Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper played their final concert at the Surf Ballroom. And it was their last show ever, because the three boarded an airplane for a fatal trip later that night when -- as noted by Don McLean's now famous "American Pie" -- the "music died."

In honor of the three rockers and their musical and cultural contributions, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has now added the Surf to its list of designated rock 'n' roll landmarks.

Travelers may be particularly interested in visiting Clear Lake, Iowa over the next week to check out "50 Winters Later", a festival designed to celebrate the passing of the three musicians and to help recognize the Surf and its historical museum.

World's Largest Cheesecake Baked in Mexico

Our affinity for World's Largest items knows no bounds, obviously (see our superb list.) And now we have a new item to tack onto the already "huge" (GET IT?) group of bizarrely big things: cheesecake.

But the world's biggest cheesecake isn't coming from where you would think, like New York. It was baked in Mexico. And it's quite large.

Chef Miguel Angel Quezada says 55 cooks spent 60 hours making the world's biggest cheesecake — a 2-ton calorie bomb topped with strawberries.

The monster cake used nearly a ton of cream cheese, the same amount of yogurt, 350 kilograms (772 pounds) of pastry, 250 kilograms (551 pounds) of sugar and 150 kilograms (331 pounds) of butter.

And, lest you question it, Guiness has already certified it as the record holder for World's Biggest Cheesecake. It's the first attempt at this record, of course, but, before you try and make a run at the record, remember: TWO TONS of cheesecake. TWO TONS. That's not exactly something you can just whip together on a Sunday afternoon.

From the "About Time" Dept: Radar May Check for Flocks of Birds

Remember that whole "Plane takes off," "Goose flies in engine," "engine catches on fire," "Plane lands in Hudson River" sequence that happened two weeks ago? (Answer: of course you do.)

Well, the whole thing could have been avoided by simply having radar to detect flocks of birds. Which someone is working on, apparently.

Federal aviation officials say a handful of U.S. airports will soon begin testing experimental radar systems designed to track flocks of birds.

The new technology can monitor birds as far as six miles away from an airfield. It's being tested at airports in Seattle, Chicago and Dallas.

Oh, wow! That's awesome! Except ... WHY DON'T WE ALREADY HAVE THIS? Seriously, airplane people: you have technological systems that allow planes to land themselves, and yet, you can't figure out when a giant group of birds, flying together (likely south, or possibly north) are headed towards an airplane, which is, by the way, also a giant metal object. Sigh.

Blowfish Testicles Poison Seven

Blowfish testicles poisoned seven diners in northern Japan after an un-licensed chef prepared the dangerous dish. Blowfish, or Fugu in Japanese, is considered a declicacy in Asian nations but the risk associated with blowfish poison makes consumption very risky.

The seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant Monday night.

Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness — typical signs of blowfish poisoning — and were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The poison found in blowfish, called tetrodotoxin, is roughly one hundred times more powerful than potassium cyanide. There's a lesson to be learned here. Regardless of whose culture you may offend, if someone offers you blowfish testicles, you should probably pass.

Berlin's Tegel Airport Finally Cleaning up bombs from WWII

German officials have announced plans to clear Berlin's Tegel Airport of all remaining WWII bombs and explosives. The announcement comes a mere 63 years, 7 months, and 23 days after Germany's formal surrender to the Allied Forces.

There are so many explosives - bombs and grenades - that litter the ground around Tegel Airport that more than 500 sites will be excavated to finally make it safe for passenger jets if they stray off the tarmac.

Berlin's Senator for Urban Development, Ingeborg Junge-Reyer declined to comment on the threat posed by the deadly relics.

All told, around 2.7 million tons of explosives were dropped on Germany during WWII. While it is inevitable that some of those explosives remain in the ground, do you think at some point they might have checked heavily trafficked, publicly-used areas like airports? What was their contingency plan if a passenger plane skidded off the runway, a-la the Fedex flight in Lubbock today?

We could have written something into the Marshall Plan about dropping bomb-sniffing dogs before the planes passed over the wall into East Berlin, but I guess there was an assumption that German efficiency would naturally address unstable explosives strewn around commercial runways. Apparently, however, they were too busy conquering the automotive industry to engineer a few metal detectors.

Alcatraz Does Its Part to Help the Environment

Alcatraz Island/Prison is a cool place to visit, especially if you're a huge Nick Cage fan (in which case we all invite you to permanently stay there) and loved The Rock. It's so popular, in fact, that approximately 1.4 million people visit it each year.

And since everyone one of those people has to be ferried over from San Francisco, it can leave a pretty large carbon footprint. But Alcatraz Cruises is helping out with that.

To help reduce this environmental impact recently launched their very own green solution - the Hornblower Hybrid ferry. The multi-hulled hybrid boat uses two wind turbines and a solar array to generate power for its navigation tools, lighting, and even part of its propulsion system.

Note the diagram above, except with less Beetles-esque cartoony graphics from the 1960's. Now, if you're into science, feel free to head over to their website and download the fact sheet and press release and whatnot. And if you're really gung-ho about visiting an old prison in an eco friendly boat, you can email the folks to set up a tour.

Iceland Government Resigns

Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the resignation of his entire cabinet on Monday, January 26th. The announcement comes after months of protests and demonstrations in which the Icelandic people accused the current government of leading them to financial ruin.

Iceland's financial system collapsed in October under the weight of debt built up during years of rapid growth.

The currency has since plummeted, with unemployment soaring. The economy is forecast to shrink by 9.6% this year.

The prime minister said he would speak to Iceland's president to formally dissolve the government.

Haarde's intent to resign had been made clear last week when he scheduled an early general election for May 9th. He said because of health reasons, he would not be running for re-election.

Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir's Social Democratic Alliance is expected to find a new partner to form a government until the elections can be held. Traditionally, Iceland has tried to stay outside of the European Union, but some sources suggest they could apply for membership within the year.

Although the resignation will further Iceland's short-term economic woes, it will make tourism to the island-nation even more affordable. As of this morning, 1 USD was equivalent to 169 Iceland Kronurs. You know what that means... discounted lodging, cheap spa treatments, and all the rotten shark flesh you can eat.

Airstream Campers: the perfect vegas vacation

Though people generally think of RVing as being reserved for Griswald-esque family vacations, there's one brand that, quite simply, has always been cool. The Airstream dates all the way back to the 1930s when Hawley Bowlus (chief designer for Charles Lindbergh's "The Spirit of St. Louis") came up with the original design, which was then perfected, renamed and mass-produced by Wally Byam in the form we know today.

But enough with the history lesson, you're perfectly capable of reading Wikipedia yourself. The Airstream found a new ritzy home when the KOA (Kampgrounds of America) location at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas started renting the trailers out for the night.

Under a new promotion with Kampgrounds of America, hipsters and nostalgia
buffs can stay in a new, 27-foot Airstream — the aluminum-sheathed,
aircraft-inspired travel trailer that's been a king of the American road since
the 1930s and a favorite of such Hollywood stars as Matthew McConaughey.

Ten of Airstream's Flying Cloud models, which sleep up to four and retail
for an average $53,000, are available at KOA's Circus Circus campground. Five more at KOA's location in Sugarloaf Key, Fla. (near Key West) rent for $170-$220 a night, and the program will be expanded to Bar Harbor, Maine, in May.

Normally, everyone should be strongly opposed to following any example set by Matthew McConaughey (we'd've all been better off if his entire career was confined to Dazed and Confused... I mean, seriously... The Wedding Planner... Fool's Gold?), but these trailers are new and improved.

They've got contemporary interiors with halogen lights and flat-screens. Not to mention the rental includes Adirondack chairs and a couple of plastic pink flamingos. Next time you're headed to Sin City, consider spending a few nights in an Airstream, they're cheaper than most of the hotels on the strip and make for a more memorable vacation than an Econo Lodge.

Renaissance Aruba Now Offering Fantasy Football Draft Packages

The best part about fantasy football is, obviously, winning. But other than that, draft day is a close second.

Some people gather for golf weekends, some just meet online and a lot of people just go to one house and get drunk while making fun of people for picking Chris Cooley in the second round.

But now, there's a whole new level that you can take it to. And that level is called "Aruba".

"Fantasy sports have become a nearly billion-dollar-a-year industry and we're looking to serve this new market with a first-of-its-kind package," said Paul Gielen, general manager of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. "Drafts have become somewhat of a ritual for participants and we thought, why not transform the entire draft experience into a getaway?"

What, pray tell, does the "Destination Draft" package include? (Other than a big pile of awesomeness, that is.) For starters: four resort rooms for three nights, a $400 group casino credit, a $400 group cocktail credit, a "decked out suite to conduct the draft, including complimentary Wi-Fi, food and local beer."

But surely," you say, "the costs must be astronomical!" Not so fast, my friend. For baseball season (February 1 - April 16) it's only $96132 per person, per night. And for football (June 1 - September 1), a cool $13296. (Ed. Note: the football is actually cheaper and the prices are flipped.) And while I'm not one to shill for a particular destination, Aruba + fantasy sports + gambling is almost too perfect. I'm pretty sure even Mike Shanahan couldn't ruin it.

Disney Does Some Pruning

Disney announced today that it would be offering severance packages to some of its executives in order to reduce costs and maximize efficiency during these tough economic times. The fact that Disney is taking steps to improve their margins is far from suprising, what is suprising is the extent of the offers.

The Walt Disney Co. is Offering a voluntary-separation plan to the nearly 600 executives in its Parks and Resorts division.

Disney did not reveal any details about the plan, including what it was offering to the executives who take the severance.

During a recession it's always unfortunate to see layoffs and cutbacks. Fortunately, it seems Disney has taken the mature route and done the trimming at the top of the tree rather than the bottom. They've also made the "voluntary-separation plans" available while it was still possible to do so. So kudos to Disney for its quality management. As for what they're teaching our children about body image, race and sexuality... well, that's another conversation.

It's not clear yet what impact these cutbacks will have at the Disney parks and resorts themselves, but expect room rates, ticket prices, and family vacation packages to drop drastically long before any of your favorite parks or hotels are closed. If you've wanted to take your family on a Walt Disney Park trip, the coming months will be an ideal time.

SeaWorld: Now With Zero Appeal

SeaWorld offers up a few things to consumers/customers. Whales. Sharks. Waters. You know, ocean stuff.

But heretofore, their best offering has been free beer. Yes, that's correct. You could drink free beer at SeaWorld. "Could" being the operative word.

[Anheuser-Busch] has stopped giving free samples in hospitality centres at its SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego and its Busch Gardens parks in Tampa and Williamsburg, Va.

Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks spokesman Fred Jacobs says the free samples had a narrow appeal among park customers.

And by "narrow appeal" what Fred means to say is "okay, we were getting economically hosed on this one". I mean, maybe there weren't many dads fed up with answering questions (with "facts", natch) about aquatic life and getting mildly drenched all day that didn't want free beer at any point throughout the day. But I'm having trouble buying that.

Legoland San Diego Plans to Build Lego-Themed Hotel

Legoland in San Diego has announced its intention to build a Lego-themed hotel. Legoland spokespeople have said they hoped the building-block themed hotel would help attract new visitors as well as lengthening visitors' average stay.

The park's British-based owners, the Merlin Entertainment Group Inc., says it will ask Carlsbad's planning commission to approve a change to the amusement park's parking requirement, among other preliminary steps to construction, the North County Times reported.

The 250-room hotel would replace an recreational vehicle parking lot next to the park's main entrance.

A new Lego-themed hotel would be the park's second major addition in as many years. 2008 saw the opening of the Sealife Aquarium. The aquarium was also built with the intention of making Legoland a more comprehensive, stand-on-its-own destination for families. With all these new projects it's hard to tell whether things are up or down in Legoland.

Either way, future guests of the Legoland hotel can be sure to expect fun, creative, but frustrating accommodation. It's rumored that many of the hotel's staff will only have one hand, Robin Hood will head hotel security but will never be able to find his arrows, the entire third floor will have been chewed on by the family dog, and guests who find the hotel facilities inadequate will be refunded in Geoffrey Dollars.

And That's Why ... You Don't Carry 110 Pounds of Drugs in Your Luggage

There are countless ways -- so I'm told -- to smuggle drugs into the country. One of those, naturally, is the old standby: using your luggage. The additional "Jackie Brown" (or Rum Punch for Elmore Leonard aficionados) spin on this is simply getting a flight attendant to handle the smuggling for you.

They rarely get checked. Which typically makes this a more viable alternative than filling your shampoo bottle with an illegal substance. But when they do, well, things can get kind of ugly.

A South African Airways crew is free on bail in London after being questioned about drugs that were discovered in bags at Heathrow Airport.

British Revenue and Customs officials say three pilots and 12 flight attendants were taken into custody after 110 pounds of marijuana and eight pounds of cocaine worth more than $220,000 were found in three bags following a flight from Johannesburg to London.

That is, too paraphrase Led Zeppelin, a whole lotta drugs. (Ba-da-da-dump-dump-dump...) OK, but no, seriously, it is. It's like filling your entire travel pillow with chalkdust. That's illegal. Or stuffing your dog with pot and then trying to carry him through security. Or ... you know what? I'm just going to stop while I'm ahead.

In silver lining news, at least these flight attendents weren't on the U.S. Airways flight that landed in the Hudson. They'd be pulling a pretty shoddy profit margin right now.

U.S. Airways Compensates Flight 1549 Passengers, Is Really, Really Sorry About That Whole 'Crash' Thing

The perceived lost for an airline crash -- in terms of per capita, assuming everyone survives, natch -- is probably pretty high when you factor in all the luggage that goes missing. So it stands to reason that U.S. Airways will be reimbursing everyone involved in the Flight 1549 Hudson River fiasco to the full extent.

Or not.

U.S Airways has sent $5,000 checks to each of the 150 passengers on the Charlotte-bound Flight 1549 to compensate them for lost luggage and other belongings.

But hey, at least they got a letter!

In a letter sent to passengers, an airline executive said she was "truly sorry." The letter also explained that passengers' belongings left in the plane could be stuck with investigators for months.

The airline also said it would reimburse passengers for their ticket costs.

Look, not to knock the airline's policy here, but, um, it seems a little short of "fair." When I travel, I'm usually sporting, at minimum, about $4,000 worth of electronic gear. That's not counting all the clothes that I'm bringing on a trip, any souvenirs I purchased or the Honus Wagner rookie baseball cards I don't leave home without*. Or the diamond collection I carry in my luggage at all times*.

But seriously, what about the time spent sitting in the Hudson freaking River? I get that economy stinks, and that everyone lived so we should be happy, but these people won't see their stuff again for a long, long while and, frankly, even if/when it shows up, assuming it's in good condition, I'm willing to be that five grand doesn't cover the bill for most of the people on the flight.

*Just in case this every happens to me, the proof is out there.

Lemme, Lemme Upgrade: 'Premium Economy' Is the New 'First Class'

You know that Seinfeld episode where Jerry tells Elaine, "I've flown first class, Elaine - I can't go back to coach. I can't... I won't"? It's funny, because it's true.

However, in this wonderful economic climate, sometimes first class just isn't an option. Which is why airlines are creating the wonder that is 'premium economy'.

Several airlines, mostly foreign, have reconfigured their long-haul aircraft in recent months to offer seats that are 5 inches to 8 inches longer in pitch — the distance between the seat back to the seat behind — and about 1 inch to 4 inches wider than coach seats. Some airlines also provide better food, wine, noise-canceling headphones and priority boarding. The fee to upgrade to premium economy can range from $30 to $2,000 round trip, depending on the distance and services. But seats are also hundreds or thousands of dollars cheaper than flying in business or first class.

The profit margin for the airlines -- Virgin, United, British and JetBlue are among the carriers joining this trend -- is pretty insane too; JetBlue portends to bring in an extra $40 million by simply adding five inches of legroom for a few rows of passengers.

As for the cost itself, oftentimes it depends on the flight. JetBlue's NYC to Tokyo flight can run an extra $1,200 for the upgrade (although perks such as a personal television, dank headphones and lounge access are included) while United's only asking $15 for the bonus from Chicago to Denver.

In other words, just don't bring any luggage, and it'll seem like it's free.

Austrailian Woman Gets Huge Ad Tattoo to Win 'Best Job in the World'

We've covered -- in great detail I suppose -- the "Best Job in the World". How can we not? It's all about travel, blogging and getting straight paid. It is perfect. And because it's so awesome, people are willing to go to ridiculous lengths in order to win this job. Like tattooing ads of the island on their arms.

Yeah, I can't imagine how this could possibly backfire in her face at all. And besides -- is this the craziest possible thing that could happen in this contest? If so, I'm figuring out something that will top it for Monday. Because I totally want that job. Er, um, haha. No, no. I'm happy here.

Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III: A Real American Hero

Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III is the man who landed the plane in the Hudson River yesterday. No, seriously. That's his name. Couldn't make it up if we tried. And, after successfully saving the lives of hundreds of passengers, he's a pretty popular dude.

And an American hero, if you ask some people. But it's probably best to wait for the investigation before you go crowning him.

James Ray, a spokesman for the U.S. Airline Pilots Association, says he spoke with Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III on Friday. He says Sullenberger acted "just very calm and cool, very relaxed, just very professional."

Ray says the flight crew is resting and likely would meet with investigators later Friday or Saturday. He says the crew has been asked not speak to the press until after the federal investigators complete their work.

Still, even if Sully somehow screwed the pooch (or goose if you prefer) on the takeoff, he managed to save everyone the plane by steering it into the frozen waters of the Hudson and therefore keeping the United State airline streak of "TWO YEARS NO ONE DEAD!!!1" alive.

Tonight, we drink to you, Sully.

US Airways Flight Leaving New York for Charlotte Finds Hudson River

In really horrific sounding news, plane headed for Charlotte from New York crashed into the Hudson River this afternoon. Fortunately, it appears that no one was injured and/or dead.

Flight 1549 left from La Guardia at 3:03 p.m. and was headed to Charlotte when it crashed into the Hudson River.

New York City firefighters are responding to the crash. It was not immediately clear if there were injuries.

Witness Barbara Sambriski, a researcher at The Associated Press, said, "I just thought, 'Why is it so low?' And, splash, it hit the water."

More details as they come, but for now, our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone on Flight 1549 and the families of the passengers.

Netherlands Hotel Takes 'Crawling Into a Bottle' to a Whole New Level

There's an old phrase about getting really drunk that involves "crawling into a bottle." My favorite memory of that phrase comes from Blazing Saddles. Well, it used to, until I found out about the De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel.

See, the Stavoren is a hotel located in the Netherlands that has rooms made entirely from French wine casks. I kid you not.

Formerly filled with 14,500 liters of Beaujolais wine from the French chateau, each now holds a modest two-person room with standard amenities and even an attached bathroom and sitting room. Visitors from all around the world have traveled to the quaint northern port town of Stavoren to stay in one of these upcycled rooms.

General rates for a cask room are from 74-119 Euros a night with discounts of up to 75% off depending on season. If you go in the wintertime, a wine cask room can be as low as 18 Euros a night, cheaper than most hostels. Breakfast is included and you can even bring your dog.

Now, there's no guarantee that you'll suffer any sort of side effects (thankfully) from passing out falling asleep here, but the buzz it's generating is pretty tremendous. Added bonus: no hangover!

A First Hand Account of Typhoon Jang Mi in Taiwan

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent; he also experience the terrors of Jang Mi first hand. Here's his account.

You’ve never really experienced a destination (I mean, truly experience the culture) until you’ve undergone a national crisis with the people. During my recent explorations of Taiwan for Northstar Travel Media as a hotel correspondent for StarServiceOnline.com, I became trapped in Taipei during Typhoon Jangmi. For North American readers, the rest of the world calls a hurricane a typhoon, and Jangmi was a big mama.

It became clear a few days into my trip that the storm would be barreling down on the city, but I never expected it would reach such an intense magnitude. Initially, I had thought I would escape it altogether so I never even thought of canceling my trip, but as the storm changed speed, I soon realized I was in for another fate.

Hatchened up in my plush quarters at the Shangri-La Taipei, I naively asked (as they were boarding up the windows) why were they not evacuating people as they would have in the United States. The cordial reply from the perfected staff came in a distinct and overly simple way. “We have nowhere to go; we’re an island,” she said.

Well, why didn’t I think of that! What is the government going to do; evacuate the whole country? So I hunkered down with the best of them. As the windows bellowed back and forth (yes, the glass was literally bending), and the building swayed (yes, we could feel it moving to the point of nausea), I sat in anticipation of what was to happen. But, the feeling was misplaced.

The Taiwanese gathered in the lobby for drinks; others laughed merrily in the cigar lounge. Tourists hobknobbed with employees in the concierge lounge amid the window and ceiling leaks and the constant gusts that could move a cow. I soon felt a feeling of calm; almost a serene camaraderie with the locals as we endured this natural disaster together. And while the building in Taipei was safe, thousands farther south in the shantytowns lost their homes and belongings.

A friend of mine was actually in Mumbai on the day of the recent terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008. He said that the media did a good job of keeping people informed, but it was his cell phone that allowed him to connect with facebook and email where he shared his whereabouts with concerned family and friends. His impression of the event was shaped by the reaction and genuine concern of locals.

The way our world communicates is evolving so quickly. Experiencing a mass event like a hurricane or even a terrorist bombing like the Mumbai attacks can be some of the finest opportunities to truly understand a culture and how they react to adverse circumstances.

All of a sudden, the art of travel is no longer about visiting tourist sites from a check list, but more about connecting on a personal level with a culture’s human emotions. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all travelers could seek this same type of experience? I just wish it wouldn’t take a national news headline to make that happen.

'Best Job in the World' Draws Over 200,000 Apps in 24 Hours

You likely recall the Australian island caretaker job we mentioned two days ago. And even if you don't, you've probably already heard about it. It's billed as the "Best Job in the World" and, well, it probably is; $150k to take care of an island snorkel and party? Yes, please.

And it's such an appealing employment opportunity that not only did the flood of international traffic crash IslandReefJob.com, but there have been over 200,000 applicants in a span of 24 hours.

"The global response in the first 24 hours has outstripped even our expectations," Australia's Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said.

Boyle said the campaign had already reached some 29 million people through television and print media coverage - worth millions of dollars in publicity.

In fact, the website is still struggling (I just tried it ... it moves sloooow) but that shouldn't be too surprising. After all, this is a cake job featuring a large salary and fun "demands" for work.

Oh, and no, it's not too late to apply. I doubt even your boss would blame you.

Cruise Ship Weddings Make a Comeback

Decades ago, the cruise ship wedding was a pretty common way to tie the knot (at least for those who could afford it). However, during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s cruising lost it's luster with younger generations and primarily became a vacation for older folks. This happened for several reasons, not the least of which is money.

Cruising can be expensive, and most young people simply don't have the money to spend $10,000 dollars per person on a vacation. Lately, however, the tide has begun turning as cruise companies like NCL have made efforts to attract a younger clientelle. The increases have been especially significant in the area of on-board weddings.

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) reports that the number of on-board weddings has increased exponentially in recent years, and that thousands will be performed during 2009.

The ceremony itself is generally held in the ship’s library, chapel, or one of the ship’s lounges. Wedding or Vow Renewal receptions may be held in one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, either during regular hours or as a private function.

Several cruise companies (Azamara, Princess, etc.) have begun marketing themselves to those looking for maritime matrimony. If you're considering a wedding at sea and you like to plan it yourself, check out our cruise guides for help selecting a ship. For another alternative, visit Cruisecompete.com where engaged couples can get set up with an agent who will help with the cruise booking as well as the ceremony itself.

Best Hotels for Business Travelers

When you're on the road for business it's often hard to know which hotels to count on. It's important that all the usual business amenities are covered, but it's also nice when hotels have that special something.

Sometimes it's service, sometimes it's an excellent breakfast buffet, and sometimes it's a single resort having 41 pools and 5 golf courses. Whatever the reason, many frequent business travelers have favorite hotels on which they've come to depend.

Tony Goddard was grumpy as he entered his room at the Beijing Hilton after a tough workday two years ago.

He was alone on his 42nd birthday, and his urgent business trip to China had also made him miss Father's Day with his family.

The unhappiness disappeared when the executive from Tully, N.Y., noticed a large birthday cake with his name on it and a card. Hotel staff apparently spotted his birth date on his passport.

With stories like this in mind, PTG offers a few helpful resources for business travelers around the world. Check out our list of the best international hotels for business travelers, as well as our list of the best U.S. hotels for business travelers. At all the hotels on our list, you're sure to find that extra something that makes a business trip memorable.

New Kids on the Block - Cruise Edition

At PTG, we're never short on cruise information (for best possible results, we recommend reading the Family Cruise List) and we're certainly never shocked by things that happen in the travel world. Well, "never" might be a bit strong. Because I was pretty shocked when I found out that the New Kids on the Block would be hosting a reunion tour on a cruise ship.

Yes, you read that line correctly.

"Our manager tells us this is not a cheesy thing, this is not a step back," says [Joey] McIntyre in the video.

The New Kids ship hits the water from May 15-18, launching from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., then heading to the Bahamas.

It will include musical performances and schmoozing.

"We're not going to be drinking pina coladas, we'll be serving them," McIntryre said.

It's almost, um, too good to believe, isn't it? Perhaps you've had a crush on Drama Donnie Wahlberg ever since you were rocking out braces. Or perhaps you've always just wanted to sit around at a cruise boat's pool, laugh with your friends and throw a margarita in Jordan Knight's face.

Either way, now's your time. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, so you better get the jump on all those teeny boppers middle aged women that'll be first in line.

Hiroshi Nohara's Mexico City Airport Run Has Ended

Hiroshi Nohara -- the Japanese tourist who made media waves by spending three months in an airport -- has called the dogs off and returned home, MSNBC reports. That's right. The man who gripped the hearts of millions thousands hundreds many with his lengthy stay in a Mexico City airport will no longer be the focus of our daily lives.

Airport spokesman Victor Mejia says Hiroshi Nohara left Monday on a flight for Japan via San Francisco.

Nohara arrived in Mexico City on Sept. 2 and spent the next three months at a food court in Terminal 1 of Benito Juarez International Airport.

His residency there made him a local celebrity and Mexican news programs ran regular updates on his life.

Nohara left the airport on Dec. 31 to stay with a woman who invited him to her Mexico City apartment. But Reforma newspaper reported that Nohara returned to the airport on Sunday carrying three plastic bags with his clothes and blankets.

Isn't it absolutely awesome (both in the "cool" and "terrifying" sense) that we live in a day and age where you can become a celebrity by living in a Mexican airport for three months?

I mean, back in the day you had to act like Pauley Shore or Andy Dick and engage in publicly showcased stupidity. Now? Just sleep in another country's airport for a few months. Fantastic.

Museum of Broken Relationships to visit San Francisco

Originally set up as an exhibit in Croatia, founders Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic have taken their Museum of Broken Relationships on an international tour. The museum is filled with artifacts from failed relationships.

All the artifacts on display have been donated by real people from cities the exhibit has visited. Each item is accompanied by a brief explanation. For example, an axe on display was used to break apart the furniture of a former lover. Other items donated range from sex-cuffs (pictured right) to a prosthetic leg. The founders said they decided to create the exhibit...

...after consoling friends over failed romances, and hope its global tour will
offer people the chance to overcome the pain of heartbreak through art.

Currently on display in Singapore, the Museum of Broken Relationships will be making it's North American debut in San Francisco on Valentine's Day. So for those of you planning to spend the terrible Hallmark-holiday alone, try taking a trip down to the Root Division gallery, enjoy a creative art-display and remind yourself that most people are just as miserable, broken-hearted and alone as you are.

Australia Is Going to Pay Someone to Party and Blog for Living

Looking for a new job? Don't want to deal with pesky things like snow and hail? Willing to relocate to a lush tropical oasis? And get paid six figures to do so?

Queensland is looking for you.

The Australian state, home to the Great Barrier Reef and Brisbane, is looking for someone to fill "the best job in the world," according to Queensland's Acting Premier Paul Lucas. Here's the basic job description:

The successful applicant will live on Hamilton Island for six months and travel to other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and report back on their adventures to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries, video updates. They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors.

Besides a crazy six-month salary of AUD $150,000 (US$158,000+), "the successful applicant would receive return airfares from the nearest capital city in their home country, accommodation on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period, computer, internet, digital video and stills camera access," according to Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle .

Applications are being taken through February 22. More information can be found at the Tourism Queensland website.

Viva McDonald's Is a Whopper of a Vegas Restaurant

Food in Las Vegas is, as long as you like to gamble, generally pretty cheap and easy to come by. If you're not willing to roll the dice (pun intended) and go for the comps, though, you can always hit up whatever is the currently best "$4.99 boo-fay" in town.

But now there's a somewhat classy new alternate for the frugal foodie in Sin City: Mickey D's.

Both of the new 8,600-square foot restaurant’s state-of-the-art kitchens were operating at full strength Tuesday night, churning out Big Macs and crispy chicken sandwiches by the dozen. Order after order of the chain’s famous French fries were dished out, too, all deep-fried and seasoned to crispy, greasy, salty perfection.

Yet audiences previewing the new Viva McDonald’s on Las Vegas Boulevard were also given food supplied from an off-site caterer — and drinks from a bar that served red and white wine, bottled beer and a martini created especially for the event.

See? Me using "classy" and "McDonald's" in the same sentence doesn't sound so crazy after all, does it? Granted, Ronald won't be spilling dirty martinis over patrons every night; this monstrosity to American excess still isn't officially licensed to sling liquor.

Airlines Celebrate Two Years of Not Accidentally Killing Anyone

I'm not one to jinx a solid streak, but since CNN went ahead and mentioned it first, I'll just follow up by saying (and hand-pounding/golf-clapping anyone that wants the visual kudos as well) "WELL DONE" to all of the United States airlines for their hard work over the past two years.

It's a tough job not to kill anyone.

A single year without fatalities has occurred only four times since 1958, an analysis by the Air Transport Association found.

Thus, the two-year streak in 2007 and 2008 is all the more remarkable, considering that airlines ferried more than a billion passengers.

"That stellar record isn't something that came about by accident," David Castelveter, spokesman for the ATA industry group, told CNN.

Seriously. I'm not trying to make any mockery of death or airline issues (we're not that far from 2001, I suppose) but what does it say about your industry when you celebrate a two year run of "not accidentally killing anyone"? I'll tell you what it says: If you mess up and let anyone else die, you better repeal that $15/bag check-in charge. That's what it says.

Delta Passengers Subdue Man Making Bomb Threats

On January 8th, a man aboard a Delta airlines flight was subdued by fellow passengers after he made bomb threats and attempted to open the plane's rear emergency exit. After the man was restrained, the plane landed safely at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta and the man, 45-year-old Lawrence Johnson of Kentucky, was arrested by airport police.

The man reportedly threatened passengers that he had a bomb, and that they should not come near him.

This occurred after Johnson shoved a flight attendant to reach the rear emergency exit, according to Chris Llewellyn, one of the passengers who restrained the man. Lewellyn is a guitarist for rapper Asher Roth.

Although aviation experts have said it would have been impossible for the passenger to open any of the plane's doors because of cabin pressure (the physics on that aren't really clear to me, but they're the experts) one still gains some enjoyment from imagining a rapper's crew getting to wreck shop on airplane. It seems like a role-made-in-heaven for Ice-Cube.

One gains even more enjoyment from the story upon learning that Asher Roth is not a stereotypical mainstream rapper, but rather a 23-year-old white guy from the suburbs of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Seriously. Somewhere, right now, Vanilla Ice is walking around in a house he just lost to the sub-prime crisis saying "Represent."

FareFinder: Thursday, January 8

Since the BCS is set to crown a college football "champion", FareFinder is offering up some sports packages that you should check out for 2009:

Green Jacket packages: Premier Sports Travel has plenty of packages, but their trips for The Masters in April are great. Starting at $2,725, you can get nearby accommodations, shuttle service to Augusta National and tickets. Just in time to see Tiger play again.

NCAA Tourney: Tickets for the first and second round games in places like Greensboro, NC, Minneapolis, MN and Miami, FL are still available for under $250 for six games. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight tickets for Glendale, AZ (West Regional) and Indianapolis, IN (Midwest Regional) can be had for as little as $90 for three games.

Scottish golf during The Open: FareFinder likes golf. But here's a truly great travel deal. PerryGolf, HQ'd in Scotland, offers an 8-night chartered cruise around the coastline of Scotland this July. During the cruise, you'll play some of the greatest courses in the world, all leading up to attending the final round of the 2009 British Open at Turnberry. Non-golfers get $1,100 off.

Run for the Roses: Mint Juleps, big hats and Millionaire's Row. The Kentucky Derby is big-time entertainment. Derby Experiences, the official travel package and hospitality provider to Churchill Downs, offers a variety of packages for the horse-racing fan -- from the basic to the absolutely luxurious.

EarthAlbum.com: The Coolest Thing You Will See in 2009

Technology is a wonderful thing. Combinations of the googles and the interwebbings have allowed people to write, talk, chat and video from anywhere in the world. And, share pictures. I don't do a lot of picture sharing, but Flickr is a pretty awesome site in terms of finding new, bizarre things to see.

And now, someone has taken Flickr and combined it with Google Maps/Earth to make Earth Album, which is, as noted in the title, the coolest thing you'll see all year.

Basically, here's how it works: you scroll around the map and find a country you want to see. You click on that country. Whatever part of the country you click on (i.e. the states or what-have-you) will generate pictures from that particular region.

North Carolina, for instance, showed me a picture of a giant cake shaped like a triple stack hamburger. Not technically that relevant to the region, but pretty darn close. And pretty darn cool. So, yeah, enjoy the rest of your week (it'll be spent there if you stop once, I guarantee).

British Taxi Cabs Via Satellite

You may already know that we heart sped up, satellite views of stuff moving across the globe. And now, the BBC brings us a lovely little expose on the taxi cab congestion in London. Although, I'll have to admit that it doesn't look that bad.

Seriously, if they did this for New York City, people would be dropping left and right from epileptic seizures.

FareFinder: Wednesday, January 7

We love celebrities almost as much as we love travel deals. Just imagine our joy when found a combination of the two:

Concert at Sea: Carnival Cruise Lines's March 27 sojourn to Cabo is gonna be rocking. Literally. John Mayer (okay, "rock" is a stretch), as well as a host of other musicians will perform on board the Carnival Splendor when it docks in Cabo. No word on whether Jennifer Aniston will make an appearance. Cabins available through January 31.

Canadian wilderness tour: The luxury tour group Horizon & Co. is offering discounted rates and free airfare for booking its 8-day Great River Journey by January 15. The only catch is that you must take the tour in June.

Jet-set with JetBlue: Weekly airfare deals for the unencumbered (i.e. Can get away from the kids, job, wife, etc.) are all over the place. JetBlue's weekly specials include flights between Long Beach and Vegas for $39 each way, West Palm and Newark Liberty for $84 each way and JFK and Phoenix for $129 each way. Book by January 14.

Aruba resort deal: A PTG Editor's Pick, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering the Larimar Spa Package, which includes accommodations for two guests for four, five or seven nights and choice of spa treatments or rounds of golf based on number of nights. Rates starting at $2,375 and available through April 18.

Photo cred: E! Online

London Was Colder Than Antarctica Yesterday; Global Warming = Obvious Myth

London this time of year is, well, London. It's cold. It's rainy. There may or may not be some fog and mist involved. So, yeah, if you were traveling there yesterday, you probably had reasonably low expectations regarding the weather. But not Antarctica-level-temperatures low, right?

Well, as it turns out, London was colder than Antarctica yesterday.

At Antarctica's Jubany Scientific Station, which is home to 60 people, 16,000 penguins and 650 sea lions, a relatively balmy high of 41F (5C) was recorded.

MeteoGroup UK said that on Sunday night temperatures reached 18F (-8C) in northern Scotland and 21F (-6C) in parts of England and Wales.

So pretty clearly, global warming = totally fake. Yet that's not even remotely the best part of the Telegraph's article. This is:

The lowest temperature ever recorded in England was -15F (-26.1C) on Jan 10, 1982 in Shropshire.

Bookmakers William Hill cut the odds of a record cold temperature being reached in 2009 from 20/1 to 16/1.

Yes, that's right. The British bet on the weather. The freaking weather, man. Of course, if we didn't have the NFL playoffs and college football's playoffs fail BCS, I'd probably lay $50 on whether or not the sun was going to shine today. Oh, right, and again: something ain't stirring the Kool-Aid on the weather when this is happening.

Hay-Adams Hotel Plays Host to Obamas

It's Washington tradition that incoming President's stay at the Blair House for the five days preceding their inauguration. Unfortunately for the Obamas, Malia and Sasha must report to their new school before the 15th and several dignitaries will be occupying the Blair House until that time. So what to do for the two weeks between? Stay at one of the most storied hotels in the country, of course.

The Hay-Adams Hotel, located directly opposite the White House and overlooking Lafayette Park, is drenched in history. The hotel takes its name from two famous Americans who formerly owned homes on the property (the current building dates from 1928).

John Hay, a private assistant to Lincoln and later secretary of state, and Henry Adams, an author and descendent of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, both lived on the site the hotel now occupies.

The two, their wives and geologist Clarence King were a group of friends that dubbed themselves "The Five of Hearts," going so far as to have china and stationary letterhead printed with the nickname.

In 1884, Hay and Adams bought adjoining lots at the corner of 16th and H Streets, and their homes became Washington's leading salons.

Their discussions of politics, literature, science and art attracted the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain and author Henry James.

In addition to all the literary, philosophical and political history that surrounds the Hay-Adams, the hotel is also really really nice.

There are plenty of luxurious rooms and suites from which to choose and all range from 500 to 1,000 sq. ft. Among the top picks is the stunning Federal Suite, with awe-inspiring period decor and a private balcony with a direct view of the White House. Keep in mind, however, that conduct on said balcony is scrutinized with an eye for trouble.

Although you won't be able to stay there for Inauguration Day (the hotel has been booked up for some time now), you may want to pay a visit afterwards. The Obamas' stay has only added to the hotel's already rich history.

Skier Caught With His Pants Down on Lift. Literally.

I'm not afraid to tell you that I'm afraid of heights. (See what I did there -- a simple offsetting of a phobia with a non-phobia. Whatever. It helps me sleep.) And I'm also not afraid to tell you that if I found myself dangling upside down on a ski lift that something bad would probably happen with my pants.

Although, it's probably not the same thing that happened to the unidentified man in the photos above and below (rescue shots below, duh). See, he completely lost his pants. Via the always amazing and yet still underrated Smoking Gun

The January 2 mishap apparently occurred after the male skier and a child boarded a high-speed lift in Vail's Blue Sky Basin. It appears that the chairlift's fold-down seat was somehow not in the lowered position, which caused the man to partially fall through the resulting gap. His right ski got jammed in the ascending chairlift, and that kept him upended since his boot never dislodged from its binding.

And see, it's even okay to chuckle at the, ahem, size of the problem, because, as you can tell, he was later rescued. We apologize in advance for the excess of anus (for lack of a less crass or scientific word) shots today.

FareFinder: Ushering in 2009

After a holiday hiatus, we're back to offer the best travel deals that come across the PTG desk each day. So, off we go:

Free Meals at Caribbean Resort: Guests who book four nights or more in one of Amanyara's Pavilions or Villas between January 4 and October 31, 2009 (excluding Presidents' Week, February 12-16, and Easter, April 3-17) will enjoy complimentary meals throughout their stay.

"Balcony Bonanza": Princess Cruises is offering couples free upgrades and $1,200 in savings on hundreds of cruises through 2009. Must be booked by the end of February.

More cruise deals: Travel to Europe on Oceania Cruises and you'll be rewarded with a $2,000 price reduction off two-for-one cruise fares, plus free airfare per stateroom on 18 of the company's 2009 European Collection sailings.

Continental.com weekly specials: A FareFinder favorite, the big last minute specials this week include roundtrips from Newark Liberty to Bermuda and Houston to Monterrey, Mexico for under $200. Book by Friday.

Delta.com Web fares: Delta is also offering some good deals online, including one-ways starting at $69 on routes such as LaGuardia to Orlando or Tampa, Salt Lake City to Las Vegas and Washington-Reagan to Reno. Book by Saturday.

Burton Snowboards Push Boundaries With Playboy Designs

Burton Snowboards -- and Burton in general -- are by far and away one of America's most popular choices for winter snow-related activities. They've found a home in Vermont for over 15 years and are considered a leader in their field.

But Burton's recent decision to push the envelope with a few different board styles has raised some eyebrows, particularly with their new Playboy model, "Line of Love".

"When you really think about it, it's a young man standing on top of a naked woman's body," said Zarrillo, 38, an office manager for a nonprofit based in Burlington, also home to Burton's headquarters. "I probably could have gotten past it, because I try to have an open mind, but seeing it like that, it's offensive."

The outcry hasn't made a dent in sales of the new lines, Burton cofounder Jake Carpenter told the Burlington newspaper Seven Days in November. The Playboy line, called Love, and a second line called Primo, which depicts mutilated hands, have "completely oversold by virtue of this exposure," he said.

Now, you might say this is a stretch to call this "travel related". I would say that you're stretching it to prove that I'm "enjoying myself without actually being on a ski slope this Monday morning."

And I would win ... unlike Burton, who may be facing just too much heat from parents, purchasers and the general public to continue on with the "Line of Love". Plus, won't someone just think of the children???