Hogwarts Campus to Open in Chicago Museum

If you've read all the Harry Potter books (or even just seen the movies) have we got good news for you. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is launching a new Harry Potter exhibit full of artifacts from the books and movies.

The Exhibition takes visitors from the Hogwarts Express train platform through the Gryffindor common room, classrooms, the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut. The tour is populated with creatures from the seven novels by J.K. Rowling and six Potter movies: life-sized centaurs, Buckbeak the hippogriff, dementors, thestrals and Dobby the house elf.

According to museum president and CEO David Mosena, the exhibit could be a traffic driver at a time when most museums are seeing a decline in attendance. The hope is that the new exhibit will attract visitors the same way pop-culture-oriented exhibits have in the past (e.g. Star Wars and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation).

The exhibit opens April 30th and runs through September 27th, at which point it will go on tour. The greatest benefit of all this will not be increasing museum revenue, but exposing children to the scientific side of their favorite fantasies.

Anne Rashford, director of temporary exhibits at the museum, had this to say:

Museums recognize that if popular culture can get kids excited to come to the museum and then we can expose them to 14 acres of science, that's a really good thing.

FareFinder: Wednesday April 29

Miley Cyrus (aka, Hannah Montana) and Atlantis, Paradise Island are teaming up for the "Miley Cyrus Weekend in Paradise" package, which includes accommodations and tickets to an exclusive Miley Cyrus concert on May 16. Rates start at $499 per person, $209 per child (ages 11 years and under). No word on whether Jaimie Foxx is scheduled to appear.

Princess Cruises' Escape the Economy sale going on now. Offers include 2-for-1 deals on select cruises and free upgrades.

The state of Colorado wants you to visit, so much so that the state's tourism board has launched HOTDEALSCOLORADO.com, providing vacationers easy access to more than 250 great vacation deals from throughout the state.

Your weekly Continental.com last-minute airfare deals include roundtrip airfare from Houston to Acapulco for $159. Combine that with some really great deals on hotels and you've got a cheap vacation all set.

Delta.com's weekly web fares include LA or San Francisco to Kennedy for $99 each way.

Myrtle Beach Cast in Rare Negative Light

One of the most popular beach destinations in the U.S., Myrtle Beach has faced tough headlines in the last week.

Home to outlet malls, myriad golf courses, beautiful beaches and endless rows of vacation rentals, Myrtle Beach normally enjoys positive press and a carefree reputation.

That all changed last week when a fire that began near Conway, S.C. raged out of control burning 30-square-miles and destroying 70 homes. Fog and smoke from the fire were so widespread, many roads in the area have been closed for days.

Firefighters battled hard over the weekend and have contained much of the fire, but a few areas are still burning freely. They're hoping to have it 100% contained by Tuesday evening.

Negative headlines continued with the mysterious disappearance of Brittanee Drexel, a 17-year-old spring breaker from Rochester, New York. Brittanee had been visiting Myrtle Beach with a few older friends when she suddenly disappeared on Saturday night.

Police are investigating the disappearance and Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mother, appeared on CNN Monday night. So far leads have proved inconclusive.

While Myrtle Beach is generally a fun, safe, family-friendly destination, it's important to excercise caution whenever you're traveling. If you're vacationing at the South Carolina coast this summer, be sure to stay read our Myrtle Beach Safety & Travel Security Guide.

Hermitage Hotel Pulls Off Rare Double-Flush, Wins Second Straight 'America's Best Bathroom' Award

The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee houses America's Best Bathroom. AGAIN. This is according to the America's Best Restroom(ABR presented by Cintas) which recently announced the winner of its 2009 award. The Heritage -- a five-star hotel in Nashville -- was also the winner of the 2008 award and a recent ABR Hall of Fame inductee.

And frankly, while this could seem like a joke, I don't think it's really stated enough how important having an awesome bathroom is. I was in the Philadelphia airport yesterday -- picking up the swine flu, natch -- and I couldn't use the bathroom despite the, um, necessity of it. Why? Because it was freaking disgusting. And this happens all time. The Hermitage, on the other hand, dominates in terms of cleanliness and awesomeness.

The ABR's primary criteria are hygiene, style and access to the public. And according to Cintas, "tens of thousands" of people voted following the close of nominations on March 31, 2009.

The Heritage dominated again, with its art-deco theme, duel shoeshine seats, authentic terrazzo floors and leaded-glass tiles.

And it's a truly a statement to the Hermitage's staying power that they could wipe the competition out and win this award for the second consecutive year. And sure, it may sound corny, but word on the street is that people see the Heritage's bathroom and "fall in love with it."

That's obviously the case with most of America and the bathroom-judgers (the world needs them too, Danny!) who fancy themselves connoisseurs of such a thing. For the Hermitage, it's a tremendous honor. But for the rest of the competition, it's back to square one.

Mexico City Earthquake Causes Citizens to Expect 'the Apocalypse'

Mexico is struggling right now, folks. As noted earlier today, the dreaded Swine Flu is causing U.S. officials to kindly nudge American citizens away from travel below the southern border. And an earthquake in Mexico City earlier today won't help things either.

The quake ripped through the city on Monday and registered a 5.7 on the Richter scale. But that pales in comparison to how the citizens of Mexico feel about the natural disaster, viewing it as the potentially penultimate sign that the Earth is about to explode. Or something.

"I'm scared," said Sarai Luna Pajas, a 22-year-old social services worker standing outside her office building moments after it hit. "We Mexicans are not used to living with so much fear, but all that is happening — the economic crisis, the illnesses and now this — it feels like the Apocalypse."

[...]"If [the world is coming to an end], it is God's plan," Gutierrez said, speaking over a green mask he wore to ward off swine flu.

So, yeah, spirits aren't so high in Mexico right now. The swine flu, the perceived crime rate, this giant earthquake, hot Satanic lava and brimstone spewing from a Mayan temple -- yeah, just not good.

Which is why I would like to emphasize what I said in an earlier post: GO TO MEXICO. DO IT. It's going to be insanely cheap right now, and it's not as if you have to parachute into a gaping chasm of pigs that fell in when the Earth ripped apart at its seams. You have plenty of higher end options that will leave you no less unprotected than having to sit at work with that jerkstore who won't stop sneezing and coughing all day.

Swine Flu Concerns Cause US Officials to Caution Against Mexican Travel

The dreaded SWINE FLU is making the "bird flu" rounds in America right now: everyone is terrified of this virus that's sweeping the nation with it's coughing and sneezing and occasional hospitalization.

And as a result, US officials are cautioning against "nonessential travel to Mexico."

This isn't the first time either (this year even!) that people are becoming terrified of our neighbors to the South. Crime sprees near Tijuana had people all kinds of freaked out earlier -- and much of that terror still remains, only now it's being amplified by the threat of semi-serious disease.

What's weird is that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is kind of freaking out about this, yet, everyone has recovered from the dreaded SWINE FLU. I'm not saying we should take it lightly and laugh at it (Lord knows I think I actually contracted a case sitting in a phone booth at the Philadelphia airport this morning) but what I don't get is that if this virus makes people feel sick why they would treat it any differently than a normal case of the flu.

But here's a more relevant point in terms of travel: GO TO MEXICO. Seriously, do it. Swine flu isn't sweeping the entire country, no more than it is infecting all of America. Which means, right now, you can probably sneak across the border for a Caribbean vacation on the straight-up cheap. Personally, I recommend checking out some of Apple Vacations' deals.

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Bay Area

On the final day of Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale, the low-cost carrier provides you with not one, but three cities to choose from.

The San Francisco-Bay Area and its three airports -- San Francisco International, Oakland International and Mineta San Jose International -- are the focus of the final day of Southwest's four-day Mystery City Sale.

Like the other days, you must book your flights today and fly between May 4 and June 10. The only blackout dates are May 21-25 (Memorial Day Weekend).

Over the course of the four-day sale, Southwest has offered 50% off flights to Philadelphia, Nashville and Albuquerque, so it wasn't a stretch to think that it would head to the West Coast for the final day. But to provide three airports for their half-off sale? Kudos to Southwest for providing four days of great savings.

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Albuquerque

First Philadelphia, then Nashville. Now, Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale heads west of the Mississippi to Albuquerque.

That's right. Home to BioPark, Sandia Crest and Route 66, Albuquerque flights are 50% off today at Southwest.com. Today is the third stop on the airline's Mystery City Sale Tour, which will end tomorrow. Based on the trend, we might see someplace on the West Coast (Burbank, anyone?) end up as the final destination.

Come back tomorrow for the final destination. 

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Nashville

Yesterday, Southwest Airlines brought you to Philly for 50% off. Today, they're taking you to Music City.

Nashville, TN, is the second stop on Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale. Just book today for travel between May 2 and June 10 using promo code LUVBNA to receive half-off your flight. That means, for example, a four-day trip from Baltimore to Music City at the end of May (Thursday through Sunday) costs around $136 including taxes.

One note we didn't mention yesterday -- none of the Mystery City Sale fares are valid during Memorial Day weekend travel (May 21-25). But other than that, every day is fair game. 

Philadelphia Southwest Fare Special -- Wanna Get Away Sale with Southwest

Fans of Southwest Airlines already know what a great deal it is. Now there's even more of a reason to love the multi-colored and recognizable airliner.

Starting today, Southwest is running a four-day Mystery City Sale, where they'll discount airfares up to 50% off for one city, each day. Today's city's Philly, with fares half-off for people flying to and from the City of Brotherly Love between May 1 through June 10.

We'll keep you posted about what other cities Southwest plans to unveil as they are announced. In the meantime, get booking!

Myrtle Beach Fires Consume Coast

Myrtle Beach is currently experiencing some of the worst fires that we've seen in a while on the East Coast; the damage caused by the quickly spreading flames has become so bad that authorities are discussing the possibility of the fire "moving to North Myrtle Beach."

According to the Charlotte Observer, 40 homes have already burnt down, between 8,000 and 9,000 acres in Horry County have been torched and 2,500 residents (or visitors) have been forced into emergency shelters.

For now, our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone down in the Myrtle Beach area that might be in danger; we'll have more as this story develops.

Hashima Island Reopens To Travel After 20 Years

After more than 20 desolate years, Hashima Island has reopened for visitors.

Hashima Island, more commonly called Battleship Island, is one of several hundred uninhabited islands considered part of the Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan.

The island was established as a coal mining facility in 1887, but as petroleum began to replace coal in the 1960s, Hashima was shut down in 1974.

During 1959, at the height of its productivity, Hashima Island had the highest population density of any area ever measured: an astonishing 1,391 people per hectare lived in the residential district. To put that number in perspective, consider this: New York City has a population density of around 104 people per hectare. Clearly, Hashima was not for the claustrophobic.

Today the concrete buildings (including Japan's first large concreted building, which dates to 1916) and seawall are all that remains, but that could soon change. As of April 22, 2009, tourists will be allowed to set foot on this historic island (under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Until now the only way to view the concrete buildings and industrial facilities was by sightseeing boats that made trips around the island.

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg ... Is Shockingly Misspelled

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg is a real place. For serious, it is. Just look at the picture above, where some guy is posing oddly in front of the lake's sign, which is misspelled, allegedly.

According to area locals anyway.

The Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has unanimously agreed to correct the spelling problems on the signs on Route 12 near Oxford and Route 193 near Thompson. 

The 45-letter name is misspelled, with an “o” where a “u” should be, at letter 20, and an “h” instead of “n” at letter 38. 

I mean, yeah. I suppose I could rant about the fact that you shouldn't name anything any name that included forty-five letters and how it's ironic that it's misspelled. But at this point, it seems a little obvious, no?

FareFinder: Tuesday, April 21

MSC Cruises has rolled out its lineup of Theme Cruises, which include a Baseball Greats cruise, Golf cruises and cooking cruises. Also, the cruise line's Balcony Bonanza promotion for European sailings has been extended through May 31.

Aer Lingus Vacations is offering an Ultimate Affordable Luxury package that includes roundtrip business class airfare to Dublin, six nights in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, full-size rental car for a week with unlimited mileage and GPS Navigation, dinner at celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Powerscourt and more for $2,999 per person.

Your Continental.com last-minute airfare specials for the week, plus some from JetBlue and Delta.com.

Last-minute cruise special from Royal Caribbean: Three-night Bahamas cruise departing Miami on Friday for $249, or a seven-night Caribbean cruise departing San Juan on Saturday (disembark in Norfolk, VA) for $549.

Delta Has an Idea to Generate Revenue: More Bag Charges!

Bag charges. They're the worst. But here's some even more annoying news: they're going up!

Yes, that's right. Delta has decided that people traveling a really long way shouldn't be able to pack more than one bag for anything other than highway robbery, as they've raised their "second bag price" on international flights to a whopping $50.

Effective today, for international travel beginning July 1, Delta will charge customers a $50 fee to check a second bag, which the company expects to generate more than $100 million annually.

Well, goodie for Delta, who will make a ton of money. The downside: this is, um, not awesome news for consumers. The airline may have posted huge losses recently, but that's still not an excuse to seek awkwardly aggressive methods of charging consumers in an attempt to recoup some money. They're better off doing something counter intuitive like giving out free peanuts. I'd buy more airplane tickets.

Alcoholic Architecture : Getting Drunk on Air

A London bar will be offering alcoholic air for the rest of April. The bar, called Alcoholic Architecture, is the brainchild of gastronomes Sam Bompas and Harry Parr.

(Their past projects include scratch-and-sniff movies and a jelly banquet.)

Decorated with giant limes and over-sized straws, the bar gives the sensation of being inside a giant gin and tonic.

In order to complete the sensation, an actual mixture of gin and tonic is misted into the room. Patrons wear special plastic jump suits so their clothes don't get wet (or stink of gin).

The mixture isn't too strong, roughly equivalent to drinking a single cocktail every 40 minutes, but doctors were still consulted in the mixing process to ensure safety.

Although Alcoholic Architecture has been well-received, Parr and Bompas aren't wasting any time enjoying the moment. Parr said:

Here we've vaporised a cocktail. In the future I would like to make a liquid banqueting table.

There's no news yet on when a liquid banquet table could be ready for public consumption, or what it might include. Hopefully, Parr and Bompas won't be too ambitious with their selections. The idea of drinking a glass of roast turkey or taking a deep, satisfying breath of mashed potatoes just doesn't seem as appetizing as a finely-misted gin and tonic.

National Park Week: Amazing Photos

In honor of National Park Week (April 18-26), the folks at Professional Travel Guide have put together a photo tour of America's most beautiful national parks.

The photos included above and below are from Havasu Falls in Grand Canyon National Park and Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park, respectively. Check out the full photo tour of amazing parks at PTG.

Chubby Flier Rules Now in Effect at United

In Canada, obese people, or "fatties" if you will, are given the privilege an additional seat for the price of one, if they simply cannot fit in one seat. That won't be the case with anyone flying United Airlines though, because the company announced late last week that obese folks are required to buy a second ticket.

There's literally zero chance this doesn't a) end up in a court or b) cause some sort of really awkward domestic disturbance. Why? Just listen to the procedure.

As of Wednesday, passengers too large to fit comfortably in a coach seat may be required to buy a second ticket or upgrade to business class, where seats are larger -- if United's flight attendants can't find two open seats for them.

In other words, yes, this encounter could occur after said large person is on the plane, which is just beginning for a scene from Meet the Parents, only ... bigger. OR, alternately, a flight attendant could stop a large person on their way into the plane and ask them to purchase an additional ticket, only to have that person explain they're not that fat. (Hilarity/debate ensues, obviously.)

Personally, I'm fine with this policy. While it may seem somewhat discriminatory, it's a total and utter nightmare to end up sitting next to someone who does need two seats, and it's just an unfair way to spend a flight ... whereas having TWO seats is secretly kind of awesome.

Fort Lauderdale Cessna Plane Crashes Into House Shortly After Takeoff

A Cessna 421 twin-engine prop flying out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport crashed into a nearby house after apparent mechanical failures, according to news reports.

The Cessna was carrying four people including the pilot.

"Shortly after it got in the air, it did report trouble to the tower," Adams said. "The tower cleared it to come back and land. In trying to make it back, that's when it went down."

"I don't see any possibility of a survivor," said Matt Little, a spokesman for Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, which was offering mutual aid to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue trucks at the scene.

The tragic situation is apparently somewhat familiar to residents of the neighborhood, with one person stating to news stations that "They need to stop flying here." 

Regardless of the city and local issues surrounding the flight, our thoughts and prayers are obviously with the passengers and their families.

Pet Airways: For People With Awesome Priorities!

This week in completely unrealistic business models, co-founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder announce the launch of Pet Airways: an airline dedicated completely to transporting people's pets between major cities.

Traditionally, pets are transported in carriers in a plane's cargo hold. But according to Wiesel, the experience can be an unpleasant one:

The experience is frightening to the pets, and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.

Pets, or "Pawsengers" will fly in the main compartment of a turboprop plane and be attended to by caring workers. According to the airline's website, attendants will be within "a cat's meow" at all times.

The inaugural flight is slated for July 14th and the airline will serve New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver.

Pet Airways is going to be a success for several reasons:

(1) Who doesn't have enough money hanging around to fly their pet on it's own f***ing airline?

(2) These people's priorities are top-notch and they've got the business savvy to match. Right now is the perfect time to start a pointless, extravagant service that no one really needs.

(3) It sends a positive message to the world that help is on the way! If Americans are willing to fly their cats and dogs on their own special plane, it's just a matter of time before all human beings have access to clean water and basic health care.

FareFinder: Thursday, April 16

Get ready to cruise: Carnival Cruise Lines' 72-hour Summer Sale is going on now, which offers a free stateroom upgrade plus up to $240 on board credit with select bookings. Oh yeah, 3-4 day Baja Mexico cruises start at $209 a person.

Piggy-backing on Tuesday's post, Southwest has started selling its Boston (Logan) flights, which take off in August. The airline will fly Boston to Baltimore/Washington and Chicago (Midway).

Between May 1 and July 31, 2009, the Starwood Preferred Guests' Free Weekends promotion lets any new or existing SPG member earn one Free Weekend Night Award after every two stays. Redeem awards any Friday, Saturday or Sunday through the end of September with no blackouts.

JetBlue is now offering frequent flyer miles for you and your pets. Thanks to Jaunted for the heads up.

Obamas, Clinton living large in Trinidad

While the U.S. government grills corporate executives for spending on things like retreats in Las Vegas and other high-profile destinations, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are on their way to the crystal clear waters of Trinidad in the Caribbean.

The fifth Summit of the Americas gets underway in Port-of-Spain this week, which will bring leaders from North and South America together to discuss topics ranging from the global economy to social prosperity. And the digs couldn't be nicer.

Accommodations for the [Obamas] have not been officially confirmed, but speculation has them either at the private residence of Prime Minister Patrick Manning or in a large suite at the 380-room Hilton. Clinton will be staying at the 428-room Hyatt Regency Trinidad, the headquarters hotel for the summit.

While I'm sure the summit is all for a good cause, how much work could you get done looking out on this each day?


Note: The Hilton Trinidad is currently closed to the public, as it is hosting only summit attendees while undergoing a complete facelift.

Space Hand Formed by Low-Energy X-Rays Spotted by NASA Observatory

What you see above is what will be known as the "Space Hand." Why? Because it's a giant freaking hand in space. And no, it's not God (insofar as we can ascertain) and no, it's not Space Ghost (because his hands aren't that big, although he is that awesome) touching an oven.

It actually is a "young and powerful pulsar" known as "PSR B1509-58." And I have also heard it described as a "nebulus." As well as "the most awesome thing to ever happen in the history of things." Yes, I'm more creative than NASA when it comes to nicknames. 

"The pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star which is spewing energy out into the space around it to create complex and intriguing structures, including one that resembles a large cosmic hand," NASA says.

See, the awesome thing about living in today's world of "the internet" and "astronomy" is that we get to see these sort of things. Unfortunately, the sad thing about living in our technologically advanced era is that we have to suffer "scientific explanations" for why there's a giant hand in the middle of the universe reaching into a crazy ball of fire. 

Nowadays, you just can't look into the sky, see something like this and start slaughtering goats as fast as you could in order to appease your Pagan gods. Oh, simpler times.

(Update: Here's a much, much, muchmuchmuch more interesting explanation of the nebulus.)

Costa Rican Boeing 747 Hotel Looks a Little "Lost"

The hotel and travel industry are always coming up with really creative ways to attract consumers to new locations. Sometimes these involve bizarre hotels made of ice or giant wine casks. Or sometimes, as pictured above, they involve a Boeing 747 in Costa Rica. Which is the Costa Verde Resort, via Inhabitat.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite also includes a kitchenette, flat-screen tvs, a dining room, and a terrace with an ocean view. We can’t really agree with their choice of furnishings, which are made from teak and shipped across the Pacific from Indonesia, but at least they were hand carved. The tip-to-tail paneling on the inside is also teak, but it was harvested locally in Costa Rica.

Now, I'm not one for "quirky travel" in the sense of staying somewhere just to say that I stayed there. And I actually don't like heights -- but this is just an appealing hotel, folks. It's fashionable, trendy, of the highest quality and it's a plane that sits in a giant tree. Really, all it's missing is snakes. And Samuel L. Jackson.

FareFinder: Tuesday, April 14

Walt Disney World offers up The Magical Mother’s Day Weekend Package, starting at $499, and includes three-day/two-night stay at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, a 50-minute Swedish massage for mom and more.

The Buckingham Hotel in NYC offering two art lover's packages, one for the Museum of Modern Art and another for The Museum of Arts and Design. Each include accommodations and tickets to museums and start at $249 a night.

Princess Cruises offering specials on its 12-day Emerald Isles & Russian Splendors May sailings onboard its Tahitian Princess, starting at $799 with promo code UEF. Ask an agent for details.

Your weekly Continental.com airfare specials.

Starting June 28, Southwest Airlines flies from LaGuardia to Chicago for $89 each way and Baltimore/D.C. for $49 each way. And the flights are filling up fast.

Virgin Atlantic Launches PitchTV

Sir Richard Branson's airline, Virgin Atlantic, recently announced its new spin on in-flight entertainment.

Called PitchTV, the new in-flight programming will feature video pitches from various entrepreneurs.

As of now only five ads have been selected, but other would-be Bransons can upload their videos online and those that receive the most votes will be added to the circulation aboard Virgin Atlantic flights.

Reactions to the move have been mixed, with some speculating on the wisdom of giving entrepreneurial-master Richard Branson access to budding ideas and business plans. Personally, I just can't wait for the next red-eye to Heathrow when I'm treated to 6 hours of Oxiclean, Dual-Action Cleanse and the Magic Bullet.

Passenger Lands Plane After Pilot Dies

Disaster was averted in southern Florida on Sunday, April 12th, when a passenger successfully landed a twin-engine plane after the pilot died during the flight.

The Beechcraft King Air 200, a twin-engine charter plane, was carrying a total of six people and was on its way past 10,000 feet when the pilot suffered an apparent seizure.

One of the passengers on board was licensed to fly smaller, single-engine planes, but had no experience with larger twin-engine planes.

Amazingly, one of the air traffic controller's friends had extensive experience flying Beechcraft King Air 200s. The air traffic controller relayed information from the friend in Connecticut to the passenger at the controls in order to bring the plane down safely.

The flight originated from Marco Island Executive Airport and was bound for Jackson, Mississippi. Rather than continuing to Jackson, the plane was redirected to the closest nearby airport, Southwest Florida International Airport. In accordance with FAA policy, none of the names of passengers, the controllers, or the pilot have been released at this time.

While the pilot's death is a tragedy, it is amazing that such a potentially disastrous situation was avoided.

Justin Timberlake Gives Southwest Accidental Advertising

When we think of celebrities traveling, we think of giant private jets, stretch limousines, and hovercrafts. They are, after all, celebrities, so why would they ever roll with the common folk?

Justin Timberlake made an exception of this rule recently, as found by TMZ (via Jaunted), when he hopped aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas ... coach style!

According to a TMZ spy who happened to be on the same flight, JT and his
bodyguard were allowed to board the plane first -- but somehow the massive bodyguard got stuck in the dreaded middle seat anyway. We're told the bodyguard tried to shoo away a passenger who asked for an autograph after the flight, but Justin happily signed anyway.

Um, yeah, "surprising" doesn't do this revelation justice -- Timberlake's one of the most recognizable celebs in the entire universe, and it's completely shocking that he only got one signature request.

The real thing to focus on here, though, is that Southwest should be jumping all over Timberlake for advertising; I would think that normal folks would be 150% more likely to purchase a Southwest flight out of Burbank (or in/out of Las Vegas) if they thought there was a chance for a celebrity sighting, and Timberlake could pick up some free tickets in the process. Or, you know, enough money to avoid flying coach next time.

Photo via TMZ

Blogger Trashed By Long Beach City Council Members

Brett Snyder, the author of the popular aviation blog The Cranky Flier, was trashed in the media by Long Beach city council members after accurately reporting his interview with Jet Blue CEO Dave Barger.

It seems Jet Blue had intended to base its west coast hub at the Long Beach airport, but had become so frustrated with the slow pace of improvements that they were considering backing out and choosing a different location. This is not surprising news. Large scale construction projects get delayed all the time, and airport improvements are notoriously finished behind schedule.

However, it was surprising news to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and other city council members who were first hearing of Jet Blue's frustration after Snyder's blog story was picked up by the LA Times and the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Rather than responding to Jet Blue or to the construction companies involved, the Long Beach Mayor instead decided to publicly state:

"We should not take blogs as professional journalism, and the professional journalists should take that as well."

Not to be outdone by the mayor, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske also decided to publicly embarrass herself by saying:

"I do think that the reporting of the comment that was, by the way, leaked directly from somebody at JetBlue to the blogger and then sent directly to the Press-Telegram and the District Weekly . . . I think the reporting was irresponsible."

At this point there are plenty of ways Gerrie's out-of-touch and uninformed comments could be critiqued. But Brett Snyder said it best himself:

The comment was not leaked by anyone at JetBlue. I was invited to have a one-on-one sit down interview with CEO Dave Barger himself at the Phoenix Aviation Symposium... Everything you read came directly from him.

It doesn’t matter if this was written on a bathroom wall. It came directly from the CEO of the largest airline at this airport. Does it really do any good to try to discredit blogs or traditional media in the process? No. It also shows that they’re quite out of touch with the current state of reporting. There are many reputable blogs and discrediting them with a blanket statement like that will most certainly not serve them well.

Marriott Helps You Score Amazon Cash

I have many weaknesses and/or vices. One of them, specifically, is Amazon.com. I wish I could help it, but I can't; I see things on the site that I want (books, music, Johnny Carson mics for podcasts) and I just start swiping my credit card left and right.

So, it's with that understood that I'm really excited to see Marriott's latest promotion, which features Visa and Amazon and hotel rooms. No, I am not a shill for Marriott. I just like their Twitter account. And it's quite simple: you book at Marriott, you get Amazon gift certificates.

Get one voucher for a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card claim code per night for up to two nights on weekend stays at Marriott Hotels and Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels, and Renaissance Hotels and Resorts

Get one voucher for a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card claim code per night for up to two nights on weekend stays at Courtyard hotels

There's always some catch, of course, though. This deal isn't particularly bad though: you simply have to book between April 13th and May 3rd for a weekend stay between April 16th and June 14th.

Now, clearly an Amazon $50 gift card/credit does not equal cash. But at the same time, if you can get $50 off a Marriott stay instead of having to stay at a lesser hotel, and then pick up, say a Grant Green box set, you've done pretty well for yourself.

Mena, Arkansas Tornado Kills Three

Mena, Arkansas was ravaged by a tornado this morning that killed three people and shredded more than 100 homes, according to reports. The tornado also injured 22.

"It looks like a war zone out here," said James Reeves of Polk County's Department of Emergency Management.

The photo seen to the right, courtesy of CNN, depicts a typical scene with debris strewn about in Mena. 

A reporter for KATV, Roger Susanin, stated that, "It came out at about 8:30," he said. "People had described it like a bomb."

Additionally, residents had some warning but were unable to mobilize their preparation methods in time. 

"There were sirens that went off," Susanin said. "There were some tornado warnings earlier in the night, but it was not supposed to hit ground level. No one really had too much time to shutter their homes."

Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Mena this morning.

Atlanta Airport Music Is Annoyingly Chipper

Airport music is airport music. It's never going to be something I want to personally listen to, just because it has to be generic and pleasing to everyone and whatnot. 

But the Atlanta airport has taken it to far, recently purchasing the rights to three R&B songs and then remaking them to be "clean." Literally.

 As part of an initiative to keep the airport clean and get people excited about the airport's new shops and dining options, officials there bought the rights to three popular R & B classics: "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches and Herb, "Bustin' Loose" by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers and "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside.

With rights secured, Doug Strachan, Creative Innovations Manager for the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, rewrote the lyrics and invited the original artists to record the revamped songs.

It's actually a pretty cool idea -- subliminally tricking people into thinking that they're somehow not miserable sitting in the airport waiting for 14 hours to get on a plane from Atlanta to New York. I mean, normally, you would think, "God, I hate my life." But in Atlanta, you think, "MAN. My miserable life feels really clean right now."

Okay, maybe that's a little sarcastic.  But still, I did "Get Your Clean Th-ing!" stuck in my head for the last hour, so I think it's the least I can offer.

Man in Hurry for Bathroom on Delta Flight Charged With Felony Assault

There's nothing worse than needing to go to the bathroom on an airplane, standing up, and seeing the dreaded drink cart/stewardess combo staring back at you. There's no other recourse than to return to your seat, cross your legs and wait it out. Unless you're Joao Correa of Concord, Ohio.

Joao Correa of Concord, Ohio, says he had a bathroom emergency but his path was blocked by a beverage cart during the March 28 flight from Honduras to Atlanta. He asked if he could use the lavatory in business class, but was told no.

[...]Authorities say the 43-year-old man is accused of pulling and twisting the flight attendant's arm. He was arrested when the plane landed in Atlanta and charged with assault.

Right off the bat, I'll go ahead and say it: I feel bad for this guy. There's nothing more terrifying than having a "natural urge" (read: bowel movement) than on an airplane flight. Typically, there's some turbulence or a long line or just the awkwardness of having to hit someone's head with your rear end as you're semi-sprinting down the isle.

But with that drink cart and an unruly stewardess and the panic that sets in, well, I can kind of see why he freaked out. At the same time though, if Meet the Parents taught us anything, it's that you don't ever get angry with a flight attendant. It just doesn't work out well for anyone.

Somalian Pirates Stopped; Maersk Alabama Reportedly Retaken by US Crew

Somalian pirates seized a US cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, that was en route to Kenya with supplies intended to relieve at 7:30 am local time today. The news seemed tragic, if not unsurprising, because of the good intent of the ship and the prevalence of Somalian pirates in that area.

However, good news arrived just a few minutes ago when the Pentagon announced that the US Crew on board had reportedly overtaken the Somalian pirates and re-seized the ship.

Currently, Maersk Line, Ltd., CEO John Reinhart is denying the rumors that the company has control of the ship again: "We have no facts that confirm the ship has been retaken ... I believe it's premature to comment on that, and I don't think it's in the best interest of the safety of the crew to comment on that at this time ... "They'd be outgunned," Reinhart said. "They don't have any weapons. It would be inappropriate for them to decide to become heroes. We'd like them to come home safely."

However, that doesn't necessarily mean that a retaking of the ship hasn't happened. And if it has, well, not to get all awkwardly patriotic or anything, but I'm getting pretty excited here. I understand that these pirates ending up doing what they do not because they're evil people, but because of worldly circumstances (I think anyway) but they're still pirates. And they still hijacked an American ship that was bound for a poorer country with supplies intended for relief.

So if our American sailors managed to throw down on the pirates, shrug off a raid and get control of the ship back, well, you better believe I'm getting excited.

Short Film on National Parks

We're kind of gung-ho about national parks around here these days -- especially out west. This one might not apply, but it's still a cool video that James Watson did on Dartmoor that ended up on Vimeo via Digg.

Dartmoor - Philip Bloom Comp from James Watson on Vimeo.

Megamouth Shark Caught, Eaten in Philippines

A megamouth shark is a very large animal. One ton (or tonne, if you will) in fact. The megamouth shark is also a very rare animal; there are only 41 known sightings.

And the most recent megamouth shark sighting occurred in the Philippines recently, when a group of fisherman caught the beast, killed it, and ate it.

Elson Aca, a Donsol WWF representative, said it was butchered and its meat sauteed in coconut milk as a local delicacy, against the organisation's device.

The 4m, half-tonne megamouth was snared by fishermen trawling for mackerel off the Bicol peninsula on Luzon island.

The species, which is named after its metre-wide mouth, is a fairly recent scientific discovery. The first specimen was caught off Oahu, Hawaii in 1976.

Now, this might sound kind of, well, obtuse, but I'm of the opinion that if you happen to catch a shark that weighs one thousand pounds and has a mouth that is three feet wide, you have every right to eat said shark, no matter what an environmental protection agency says.

Yes, that's probably a little callous as well, but the reality is that, again, the shark weighs 1,000 pounds. It's an incredibly rare and amazing catch and while sauteing the sucker might not exactly be the historically thoughtful thing to do, well, at least it justifies whatever effort these Philippians went to.

GM Segway PUMA Update: Video!

Okay, I know I might be a touch over the top using two posts on the GM Segway PUMA Project, but I can't help myself. There's just too much freaking unintentional comedy going on in this video, which was released by Segway to promote the PUMA PROJECT. 

Seriously -- we all get that this is a 35-MPH-max urban transport vehicle right? Yet, here they are laying down some track to promote it that sounds like Isaac Hayes was commissioned for Jenna Jameson's latest project. Which, don't get me wrong, would be awesome from an aural standpoint, but to promote a two wheeled urban transport vehicle? COME ON!

GM Segway PUMA Probably Not Safe for the Highway

The GM Segway. That would, presumably, be the name of the new car that GM and Segway are creating together, right? Wrong. It's called the GM PUMA. Which is waaaay too sweet of a name for something so small (see right).

Although in fairness, it does stand for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, so I suppose there's a reason, even if there's not an actual noun in the acronym. Anyway, the point being is that the PUMA is a brand new project for urban transportation that the car company hopes to have rolling by 2012, provided that they're still operating.

It's a more speedy and car-like version of the Segway scooter made famous by Gob Bluth and mall cops everywhere, and it can hit upwards of 35 miles per hour. Ostensibly, the PUMA would be used by urbanites who really hate walking or have lengthy commutes in major cities and really despise having to waste gas and time in gridlock with their normal cars.

Sadly, anyone who uses the PUMA will be immediately relegated to the typical "Earth-friendly but totally uncool" status that typically accompanies such vehicles.

Summer of Savings for Families: Don't Let Bad Travel News Ruin Your Plans

Ken Shapiro is the Editor-in-Chief of Family Getaways.

As a travel editor based in Los Angeles, I’ve been lucky enough to travel frequently to Mexico. It’s one of my favorite getaways. So the problem the country is having now with drug-related violence is especially sad to me.

I recently wrote an editorial about the State Department travel alert for Mexico, and mentioned that my 4-year-old daughter has an image of Mexico as looking like “sunny roses.” (Don’t ask me where she got that from.) I wrote that I’m hoping to take her to Mexico this summer.

After the piece ran, I received some emotional responses. Some said I was irresponsible for even thinking of bringing a child to Mexico, while others said they were relieved to hear a voice of reason instead of more hype.

“Just a note to let you know how nice it was to read your article about the Mexico alerts,” wrote one travel agent from Oregon. “That blanket alert came out right before I took a group to Loreto and it did cause some concern for one couple. Once they got there, they loved it and had a great, carefree time. I hope your article will lend confidence to agents who have been spooked."

What I didn’t get a chance to say, however, is another reason for taking a family trip to Mexico this summer. Namely, it has never been this affordable.

Like many destinations, Mexico tourism has been hit hard by the U.S. recession, but it has also had the double whammy of safety concerns as well. As a result, resorts and tour operators throughout the country are doing whatever they can to put “heads in beds” (as they say in the biz).

Two recent deals come to mind:
-- From April 19 through Oct. 31, parents can take advantage of the Kids Stay and Eat Free program at select Pueblo Bonito resorts. Participating properties include Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, Pueblo Bonito Rose Resort and Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos, in Cabo San Lucas; as well as Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan and Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay in Mazatlan.

-- Pleasant Holidays is offering savings of up to 40 percent off on select hotels in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos, and kids stay and eat free at many of these resorts as well. Through Aug. 20, three-night air and hotel packages to Los Cabos from Los Angeles start at $238 per person. Sample three-night vacation packages to Cancun, including round-trip airfare and all-inclusive hotel accommodations, begin at $354 from Houston; $359 from Los Angeles; $385 from San Francisco; $397 from Portland, Ore.; $424 from Phoenix; and $455 from Dallas/Ft. Worth.

These are just some of the deals available this summer. Whether you’re thinking of traveling to Mexico or elsewhere, if you do some homework before you go, you should save a few bucks. Plus, if others are too spooked to travel, that just means you should have no trouble getting the best spot by the pool.

Earthquake in Italy Leaves 50 Dead, Thousands Homeless

An earthquake in Italy occured around 3:30 AM that registered a 6.3 on the Richter Scale has killed 130 people, injured hundreds and left more than 50,000 people homeless according to global news reports.

L'Aquila, central Italy, was ripped apart by the quake early Monday morning, and while the area is prone to many earthquakes (having had approximately nine smaller ones since April began) this quake clearly caught the residents by surprise, as most were sleeping when the quake hit.

"Some towns in the area have been virtually destroyed in their entirety," said Gianfranco Fini, speaker of the lower house of parliament, as MPs observed a moment of silence.

The full extent of the damage (some pics, courtesy of the Seattle Times) can be seen above and below, although it would appear that the full extent of the quake -- which was felt all the way in Rome -- has continued to rise throughout the day.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost and the people currently suffering.

Airlines Getting Better Report Finds

Airline performance is at a four-year high according to a recent study by private researchers. The study, which is based on government statistics, examines factors like the timeliness of flights, number of lost bags, and the percentage of passengers who file complaints to determine overall quality.

Of the 17 airlines researched, Hawaiian Airlines took first place, followed by Airtran Airways and Jet Blue. American, Continental, Delta and United were all in the middle with regional airlines filling out the bottom third.

The study found consumer complaints dipped from 1.42 per 100,000 passengers in 2007 to 1.15 in 2008. Southwest Airlines had the best rate, only 0.25 complaints per 100,000 passengers; US Airways had the worst rate, 2.25.

The average on-time performance last year was 3 percentage points better than the year before, yet nearly one-quarter of all flights were late. The study said 12 airlines improved from the previous year, but only three airlines had better than an 80% on-time rate: Hawaiian, 90%; Southwest, 80.5%; and US Airways, 80.1%.

American, the nation's largest air carrier as measured by passengers flown the most miles, had the worst record, arriving on time only 69.8% of the time.

Although airlines have made strides to improve customer experience, the reduced number of travelers has had the most significant impact in reducing lost bags and bumped ticket-holders. Aviation experts say the world's air transport system had reached capacity in 2007 (the year airlines did the worst in this study) and now, due to decreased travelers, things are starting to improve.

Dean Headley, aviation expert and co-author of the study argues that now's the to improve our air transportation system.

He urged Congress to take advantage of this "breathing room" to move forward on a system that would replace decades-old radar technology with satellite-based technology.

That new system is forecast to increase air transportation system capacity by enabling planes to fly closer together and more directly to their destinations, saving time and fuel.

"It's crazy to think we can keep going the way we were going with the volume of planes we have in the air," Headley said.

Visa Black Card: Not Loved by Stephen Colbert Either

Stephen Colbert is quite the humorous gentleman. However, despite his inherent comedic spin on nearly everything, he's actually quite right about the Visa Black Card, except for different reasons. Remember when we told you that there were some problems with it? Well, there are. Colbert just identifies, um, different ones.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Visa Black Card
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Steve Bierfeldt Detained by TSA for Carrying $4,700 in Cash, Records the Conversation

Steve Bierfeldt was detained by the TSA while leaving from St. Louis on an airplane for carrying $4,700 in cash. He was smart enough to record the conversation with his phone (insert collective traveler fist pump ... here). And, naturally, it's made its way onto the interwebz! Here's audio/video, followed by an interview with Bierfeldt:

Can't see how this ends poorly for the TSA, at all. I mean, no chance, right? Exactly. As noted in the interview, he was employed by Ron Paul's campaign and had a bunch of bumper stickers, and apparently the Mizzou police issued an order that Ron Paul supporters are "militia members" or some-such. Anyway, the greater point is that the TSA needs to realize that they can't just flex their muscle whenever they want, and threatening travelers is just going to blow up in their face.

Via Mark Ashley at Upgrade: Travel Better

Best Job in the World Finalists Announced Today

The Best Job in the World -- we've written about it plenty -- has been an international sensation. And now, the finalists for the Island Reef Job have been revealed. There are 15 of them and they are a pretty eclectic group.

Did you apply? Wondering if you got picked? Well, I would ask you: "Why weren't you sitting by your phone all day yesterday????"

You can read all about the finalists at the site, and you better believe that we'll be breaking down this competition as it continues. Excessively.

Full Body Scans at Airports Seem Creepy, Show Underwear

There's absolutely nothing worse than the security line at an airport. Because of the events surrounding 9/11, it is completely impossible to slide through in any sort of expedient manner. However, the notion that airports could introduce "full body scanners" (yes, Total Recall style) might speed things up. 

Or make things really, really awkward.

The new technology, developed by New York based L3 Communications, has raised concerns after it was revealed that underwear is visible in the scans.

The scan blurs out the face of the passenger, and the image is not stored. However, the American Civil Liberties Union said the body scanning technology could be too intrusive as it could project images of mastectomies and catheter tubes.

Yeah, so, really, there's no reason to get this party started ... unless you're really, really thrilled about the prospect of seeing someone heavily embarrassed every time you get in line at the airport.

And yes, that might actually be kind of fun, but at the same time, this (currently voluntary) test is almost guaranteed to actually slow things down, even if it manages to somehow make airports safer.

FareFinder: Thursday, April 2

Time sensitive special from JetBlue: $14 flights from San Fran to JFK or Long Beach. Today only, so act quick. If you miss that deal, then check out their Spring Sale, which also ends today.

InterContinental Chicago offering a baseball lover's special that includes accommodations, rooftop seating across from Wrigley Field and an open bar for $249 per night, per couple. That and other specials available online.

Southwest Airlines redesigns its Special Offers page. And by the way, it has really good specials through Monday.

Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in L.A. offering a "Doggy & Me" package that includes accommodations in a Junior Executive Suite on the Spa Level, in-room massage for guest and their four-legged loved one, dog treats specially created by OnSunset restaurant’s Executive Chef and more for $575 a night.

Mount Cleveland Erupts: The View From Space [PIC]

Mount Cleveland in Alaska recently blew roof along with a slew of other volcanoes in the world. Here is a picture of said volcano ... from space. Thanks Digg, for having people smart enough to link this up from Wikimedia.

Man Tweets His Way Around the World

Twitter is taking off. Just ask Paul Smith.

The Brit, who apparently has a lot of free time on his hands, made his way around the world relying only on the tweets he sent to the 11,000 people who followed his journey.

His self-imposed golden rule was that he could only accept offers of travel and accommodation from people who use Twitter. Smith was also banned from making any travel plans more than three days in advance and has to leave each location within 48 hours of arriving.

Smith made it from his home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Stewart Island, New Zealand, in 30 days and visited the Netherlands, France, Germany and the U.S. And while stateside, he found time to hang with actress Liv Tyler.

It wasn't all fun and games, as you can read on the blog he kept, but it is impressively cool. Plus, the journey helped raise money for Charity: water, a non-profit that brings clean drinking water to developing nations.