Ryanair Charges for Bathrooms, Eliminates Check-In Counters

Ryanair just can't stay out of the news. The discount airline made headlines earlier this week when it publicly lambasted a blogger for pointing out a flaw in their website's design. While they were at it, they decided to lump all bloggers into a collective group, kindly referred to as "lunatics."

More negative publicity followed as the Irish airline announced that it was considering charging passengers to use the bathroom.

Ryanair could begin charging passengers to use the toilet. That's direct from the mouth of Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who made the comments this morning to BBC television. "One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that people might actually have to spend a pound (about $1.43) to spend a penny in future."

Many industry experts have wondered if the move would backfire for Ryanair. According to British Aviation officials, there is currently no legislation mandating toilets be available on board aircraft, so if the airline does decide to include one, they can rightfully charge for its use.

Ryanair's most recent announcement concerns airport check-in counters. The discount carrier will eliminate all check-in counters by the end of 2009.

The Dublin-based discount carrier plans to get rid of its ticket counters, shifting some of those employees to staff drop-off stations for passengers' checked bags. Ryanair has released few details of exactly how the ticket counter elimination would work, but CEO Michael O'Leary told the Daily Telegraph that the airline ultimately wants only 20% of its passengers to check bags.

It's unclear yet how passengers would respond to the move. Thus far, no airline has ever eliminated 100% of its check-in counters. Although self-service has been a growing trend in many industries, especially air travel, many remain skeptical that Ryanair will be able to make it work.

Despite the numerous headlines and incredulous responses to pay-toilets, blog-hating and mandatory self check-in, no one should really be surprised. Ryanair has a history of taking a different approach than other airlines. For proof of Ryanair's independent-thinking, look no further than their Calendar of Scantily Clad Flight Attendants (hey, at least it was for charity).

Travel Gear: The Best Luggage Your Money Can Buy

Everyone always asks me how I pack for such long trips; a conversation that usually ends with shock when I say my travel companion is one standard roll-aboard. With airlines charging to check a bag, I have seen more people carrying on their luggage. My favorite roll-aboard is my Swissgear by Wenger, Lugano Collection 21” Expandable Pilot Case.

These days, I find myself traveling on more regional jets with smaller overhead bins resulting in carry-on bags being gate-checked. Luckily, my bag has held up every single time to the jostling, throwing, and stacking that carry-on bags endure in transit from the jetway to the cargo hold. It has a sturdy handle, two thick wheels, and plenty of pockets. My favorite feature is that it has an expandable zipper (perfect for when I pick up one too many souvenirs)!

The worst part is that I am not a good friend to my luggage. I drag them along cobblestone streets in Portugal, through the sandy shores of Honduras, and even on splash-prone boats across the bays of the Seychelles while reviewing hotels for ProfessionalTravelGuide.com. My bag has held up with hardly a problem.

I like to stuff my dress shirts in a jumbo Ziploc bag before sealing it tightly to keep them from wrinkling. All of my smaller items from socks to camera charger go in another Ziploc bag so that when I open my bag for airport security or on the train, the contents don’t go pouring out. Not terribly glamorous, but it’s a fail-safe tip to arriving organized and presentable.

Once while traveling on an unnamed airline, the baggage handlers managed to lodge a piece of metal into the wheel rendering it unusable. I dug up the 10-year warranty that came with the bag, contacted Swissgear, and voila, a new bag was on my doorstep.

I recommend this bag (which by the way, only cost me $69 at Target) to everyone who asks me. Not because I feel the need to become a traveling salesman, but because I believe that traveling should be more about taking in the sights and sounds of our exciting world rather than picking up undergarments from a rolling baggage claim!

Hurtigruten Offers the Deal of Lifetime

As mentioned earlier in the Farefinder...

If you've never been on a cruise, now would be a good time to consider it. At this point, it's old news that cruise lines around the world are offering amazingly low-rates to combat the struggling economy. However, Hurtigruten has just taken their rates to newsworthy lows.

Hurtigruten has unveiled a program on two of its 2009 Greenland cruises that offers an all-inclusive approach and savings up to 68%. The "Pay One Price" deal is available on all suites and staterooms on the 318-berth Fram, a deluxe expedition ship, for the season's two one-way sailings.

Suites, normally $16,676 to $20,366 per person, double, are being priced at $5,499 to $7,249, while staterooms, normally $12,536 to $15,716, are $3,999 to $5,249. Suite bookings include two optional excursions; wine, beer or soda at meals; and a bottle of Champagne. The booking deadline is March 31.

Although Greenland might not be the exotic destination you'd always imagined, travelers can count on beautiful scenery and luxurious accommodations. Plus, with all the money saved in the process, you can make a pretty respectable offer to buy Iceland during the stop over in Reykjavik.

FareFinder: Thursday, February 26

Sandals Resorts offering last-minute getaways, including four nights in the Bahamas for as little as $2,100.

Hurtigruten slashes prices on 17- to 21-day Greenland cruises, including airfare from NYC.

In response to AirTran specials, airlines rush to discount competing fares. Case in point: this Continental flight from Raleigh-Durham to Newark-Liberty.

Five-star Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich celebrates it re-opening anniversary with buy-one, get-one up to four nights.

Today is Carnival Cruise Line's one-day sale. Specials include a 5-day Caribbean cruise from Galveston for $279.

Irish Airline Calls Out 'Lunatic Bloggers'

The only difference between "bloggers" and "writers" is  the "medium" with which to "spread this message" "to the masses." (Or something like that.) Bloggers just happen to be able to spread the message more quickly, which is what Jason Roe did when he found out about a glitch in Irish airline Ryanair's system that allowed him to book free tickets. 

As a result of his blog post, some people got upset and posted comments calling him an "idito and a liar..." These comments were traced back to Ryanair's corporate IP address ... and not only is the airline not denying it, they're backing up their employees and dogging Roe in public.

"Ryanair can confirm that a Ryanair staff member did engage in a blog discussion," said the airline's spokesman Stephen McNamara. "It is Ryanair policy not to waste time and energy in corresponding with idiot bloggers and Ryanair can confirm that it won't be happening again. Lunatic bloggers can have the blog sphere all to themselves as our people are far too busy driving down the cost of air travel."

Now, Ryanair as engaged in some bizarre behavior before (like creating a swimsuit calendar featuring their employees) but this is just insane: "lunatic bloggers" aren't out to destroy the world. Roe just happened to see a screw up on the part of the airline and publicly identify it.

That's not some excuse to launch into a publicly displayed form of stereotyping; if anything, it should be an excuse for Ryanair to stop spending money on swimsuit calendars and use the cash to secure their server. 

Lake Jocassee Video

FareFinder Extra: Summer price wars beginning early

It's no secret that the airline industry is hurting for business. More and more airlines are slashing prices and offering weekly specials and Web fares.

Now, according to the Associated Press, Atlanta-based AirTran Airways is about to jump-start a price war that will give consumers even more of a reason to fly:

In a sign of great uncertainty about demand for air travel this year amid the deep U.S. recession, discount carrier AirTran Airways launched a fare sale to all its destinations Tuesday for flights through the middle of the fall. ... AirTran, a unit of Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Holdings Inc., said its sale fares, starting as low as $39 one-way, are available for purchase through March 5 for travel through Nov. 4. The biggest discounts are for travel on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

According to the story, American, Continental, United, US Airways and Delta "quickly matched on routes where they compete with AirTran, and JetBlue said it would do the same."

Coupled with deep discounts from hoteliers, cruise lines and other industry services, there might not be a better time to travel.

FareFinder: Tuesday, February 24

47 last-minute airfare deals from Continental hubs in Newark Liberty, Houston and Cleveland

Apple Vacations offering three night, all inclusive values from $599.

Discount airline Southwest to begin Boston flights into Logan this fall

MSC Cruises offering 60% off Transatlantic sailings from Ft. Lauderdale on MSC Orchestra and MSC Lirica

Divi Resorts in the Caribbean offering up to 40% off vacation packages, as well as food & beverage credit

Vantage Travel offering 16-day South American tour, including hotels, meals, airfare and sightseeing, for $3,999

Carnival Cruise Lines' one-day sale is this Thursday

United Flight Crew Allegedly Calls Coach Passengers "IDIOTS"

The first rule of being a flight attendent isn't even: "be polite." I think we all know that too well. The first rule is "don't ever call anyone on your plane an 'idiot.'"

Well, according to the Consumerist and reader Nicholas, the flight crew of United Airlines flight 941 from Chicago to Denver did just that.

[...]I am a frequent business traveler. I was on United flight 941 from Chicago to Denver. On takeoff and landing I always listen to the cockpit communications. Hearing the dulcet tones of the pilot helps ease some of my flying nervousness. During flight 941 I didn't hear anything from the cockpit during takeoff and once we were in the air I heard something odd on the cockpit communications channel. It appeared I was hearing the flight attendants communications. I could see them talking on the phone near the bulkhead and I could hear it on the cockpit channel. Most of the conversation was fairly innocuous but when it was time to serve drinks I heard: "We start on drinks for the IDIOTS in coach". It was at that point one of my fellow passengers let them know we could hear what they were saying. They stopped using the communications system and offered no apology.

I've sent the story to United and surprise… no response.

Here's the thing. It's not always personal when something like this happens. Just because it does once doesn't mean that stewards and stewardesses don[t care for the vast majority of people who happen to pay for his/her income. And it doesn't mean that they don't secretly love anyone who doesn't want to waste the extra $300 to sit in a bigger seat and get a hot towel. 

But United, presuming that Nicholas' email is accurate, needs to do something to address this issue, because, as it stands now, they're kind of getting away with it. One has to wonder how long that will last if it gets national attention.

CityCenter Las Vegas Taking Reservations

Las Vegas is one of the most complete tourist destinations in the world. There is truly something here for everyone who'd ever want to visit Sin City. Now they even have something for those who don't: another city.

No, Las Vegas didn't buy Reno and have it moved closer... although I wouldn't put it past them. The folks at MGM are in the process of building a self-contained miniature city called, "CityCenter."

The massive development will feature several hotels, condominium-style residences, restaurants, shops, a casino... everything you would normally find in a luxurious resort city... in a desert... in Nevada. Although some of the buildings won't be completed until mid-December (and several after that), two properties have already started taking reservations.

The Vdara Hotel and the Aria Resort & Casino, two properties in the CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip, are accepting reservations.

The Vdara will be the first of CityCenter's properties to open, followed by the Mandarin Oriental hotel and the Crystals retail and entertainment district in early December. The Aria is due to open Dec. 16.

The Vdara's rates range from $159 to $2,000 per night. The 1,495-suite, non-gaming hotel will be connected to the Bellagio and adjacent to the Aria.

One notable aspect of the CityCenter development is its focus on sustainability. According to MGM, each building constructed is aspiring to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The construction efforts have paid special attention to water use, eco-conscious building materials, and indoor air quality. It's still unclear exactly what part of building a city, within a city, in the middle of the desert demonstrates environmental leadership, but the buildings sure do look cool.

Toilet Restaurants = The New Hotness

Bathrooms: they're very clearly one of the more appetizing places you can possibly sit. So why wouldn't someone have already thought of a toilet-themed restaurant? Yeah, I have no idea either.

But it's finally here now, via the Daily Fork: a restaurant chain with a toilet theme, aptly named "Modern Toilet."

Modern Toilet is a restaurant chain in Japan that was recently brought to our attention by Spike.com. The restaurant serves their food in plastic toilet bowls, to diners sitting atop (you guessed it) toilet seats.

It should also be noted, as seen in the picture, that the tables appear to be washtubs/sinks. Which is just flat out gross. I mean, sure, there's a glass table over them. But I doubt they're clean; this is, after all, a bathroom, right?

Oh, and also, re: these anywhere near where I live: DO NOT WANT. 

Breaking: U.S. Airways Announces Return to Free Drinks for All Flights

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

US Airways management is reversing its decision to sell drinks in the Economy cabin bringing free soda, coffee, tea, and, yes, even water back to the traveling public. Since the idea was announced in 2008, passengers and flight attendants have dealt with grumblings that the charges were a step too far on the "fee front".

Management claims that Coach passengers were not booking away from the carrier due to the charge and that there was no significant dip in passenger satisfaction (their justification for keeping the charge, one they had hoped other airlines would match).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that customers were indeed booking away and dissatisfied with the nickel-and-diming approach. Thankfully, the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline will adjust the program to free non-alcoholic drinks in the main cabin. Alcoholic drinks and certain specialty items will remain for sale as on other airlines.

The sale of drinks produced cleaner cabins as there was less trash from drink cans on board and subsequently less use of the restrooms. But, as the only airline in the United States to charge for a cup of water, this change is a step back in the right direction for US Airways passengers. Now, if only the ridiculous $50 surcharge to book so-called "free" award travel would be erased!

Tricks of the Trade: The Last Minute Seat Change Request

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

Hardly one of my signature moves, but one of my smartest decisions when I travel is to never give up on perfecting my seat assignment. Yes, I said it, "perfecting" my seat assignment.

Okay, so I snagged an excellent window seat near the front or a popular aisle exit row in advance. But, these days with new fees in place for premium seats and tools like seatguru.com giving travelers more informative choices on where to sit, you can hardly risk it.

Say for example, you're on a long-haul Tokyo-New York flight like I was recently. You scour the seat map for days and weeks ahead of time plotting your move like a football coach before the big game. As the players move around on the map and the seat choices fill up, a disheartening feeling can quickly settle in that you will be squeezed between Big Bertha and Pa Kettle for a 13-hour flight.

Or, you can pull this trick of the trade move. As they call for boarding (and with your most polite and gentle demeanor), ask if there is anyone sitting next to you or if there are any seats with open seats next to them. By this time, most people have received their assigned seats. You stand a really good chance of scoring some of the best seats in the house. The agent will remember your friendly smile and do their best not to assign those seats at the last minute to anyone else.

Sure, this doesn't work on a full flight or a busy gate with lots of agents. But, it worked on my Tokyo-New York flight where I scored three seats by a window on which I proceeded to create my own First Class bed for the 13-hour flight.

You would be surprised at how often blocked seats go unassigned or entire rows remain empty until right before the door closes and then only those passengers seating nearby notice them or have a chance to make a run for them. Do your homework in advance and with the agent at the gate to benefit without paying a fortune.

Pilot Gets Angry at Airport Security, Exposes Himself

Airport security is frustrating. There's a pleasant mix of incompetence on both sides (I've actually seen a woman try to walk through a metal detector talking on her cell phone before) that causes unbelievable delays in getting through to the airport.

For pilots though, it's usually not a big deal. They walk right through, usually (right??). Not the guy in charge of captaining a flight out of London City Aiport this week though. He was asked to take his shoes and belt off like everyone else and he did not respond, um, well.

“He pulled down his trousers and pants to completely expose himself, then turned to the security guard and asked angrily, ‘Do you want to search this?’”

Wow. That's not an awkward scene at all. Mercifully, it went down at the East London's terminal downstairs, which is apparently not used by the public, so no children were harmed in the indecent public exposure incident. 

For whatever reason, The Sun doesn't have the pilot's name in the report, only the flight he was on, but it's pretty safe to say that he won't be cruising the friendly skies anytime soon.

Oil Rigs The Next Dubai?

There's been some recent speculation about what to do with 4,000 abandoned oil rigs in the Mexican gulf. The traditional approach is to blow up the rigs, which costs millions in explosives and safety measures, as well as being highly detrimental to the surrounding sea life. Morris Architects offers an alternative solution:

If a deck on one of these rigs is about 20,000 square feet, then there is potentially 80 million square feet of programmable space just off the coast of the United States...

What if these rigs were recommissioned as exclusive resort islands? Could the Gulf be America’s “Dubai” and the rig the artificial island on which to build it? This project examines the possibilities of creating a self-sufficient, eco-friendly high-end resort experience in our own backyard – the Gulf of Mexico.

(H/T: BLDBLOG)

The rooms would be pre-fabricated and stacked, cargo-container-style, on large ships and assembled on the rigs at sea. It's currently unclear whether the project will take off or not, but the idea of potentially bolstering Mexican and U.S. tourism is welcome suggestion in this economic climate.

FareFinder: Thursday, February 19

JetBlue celebrates 400 years of Bermuda with $99 fares from JFK

Spring Training special for Minnesota Twins fans on Captiva Island

Mohegan Sun offers its own stimulus package in the form of $5 blackjack 24/7

Delta.com's weekly web fares as low as $59 each way

Continental.com continues to discount roundtrips from Cleveland, Houston and Newark Liberty

Young and Jewish? Free trips to Israel offered through Taglit-Birthright Israel

Birthright Oranim Provides Free Israel Trips for Jewish Youth

Birthright Oranium (also known as Birthright Israel) and found at BirthrightIsrael.com is offering one of the best travel "deals" in the history of the world: they're giving free trips to Israel.

The catch? You have to be Jewish and between the ages of 18 and 26 to qualify.

Taglit-Birthright Israel provides a gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26 from around the world. Taglit-Birthright Israel is a unique partnership between the people of Israel through their government, leading Jewish philanthropists, and local Jewish communities and Jewish Federations (through the United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod and The Jewish Agency for Israel).

In other words, this is a purely educational trip designed to give anyone who is a young, Jewish adult a chance to visit the home country. Frankly, it's a wonderful idea, it's fantastically philanthropic and I hope that the economy in no way impacts the ability of this venture to continue as is. Check here at BirthrightIsrael.com  for Summer 2009 registration.

Best Job in the World: Update

Australia, as you recall, recently offered up "The Best Job in the World," which basically involves sitting back on an island, "caretaking," soaking in the sun, and blogging about it. (Actually, all you have to do, according to the site, is "Explore and report back, feed the fish, clean the pool, and collect the mail.)

It's already inspired one woman to get a huge tattoo on her back and managed to crash the website's servers. And, with just THREE DAYS REMAINING, if you want in on this deal of a lifetime (it pays over $150k for six months of "work") you better hurry. Oh, and be creative. Because you've got some competition.

There's not long now until applications close for The Best Job in the World. As of Thursday 12 February 4:30pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) we have received just over 15,500 applications in total. Not all of these have been approved due to a variety of reasons. You have until 22 February 11:59pm UTC to get your applications in. We'll continue to update you on the latest figures over the coming week.

This number, apparently, is already over 19,000. Which is simply stunning. And a pretty good indication that everyone in the free world would prefer to not actually work and to just hang out on an island all day. Obviously, right? Of course, not me. I have the real best job in the world*.

Which is why I haven't actually applied [under my real name]. 

*Just in case my bosses read this.

Swedish Elk Can't Handle Their Alcohol

Sometimes we get some great updates from our correspondents out there. Like this one, from Sweden:

Drunken elks can be a serious road hazard in late fall. The animals feed on fallen apples and other fruits that have fermented, and a bull elk can pack quite a punch. Some "alco-elks" have been known to terrorize whole neighborhoods.

My first thought was, "This can't be THAT big of an issue, can it?" Then, I find this little nugget:

A drunken elk paid dearly after attacking a toddler playing in a sand pit at her home in Kungälv in western Sweden ... The dangerous beast had been spotted nearby on several occasions prior to the attack and returned to the area later that day in an apparent search for more apples. This time, however, local residents took no chances and a group of hunters shot the inebriated elk, putting an end to any further neighbourhood terror.

The lesson, as always? Always look out for drunk elk in Sweden. Obviously.

CNN Anchor Has, Um, Peanuts on the Mind

Just a warning, if potential Freudian slips involving multiple usages of the scientific word for male genitalia, consider this your "NSFW" warning. See, the CNN anchor in the video below was trying to talk about the outrage over "peanuts" on Northwest airline flights. Instead, she, um, well, yeah, let's just say that Georgia peanut farmers don't appreciate the stereotyping.

Consumer Upgrade News: Continental Trades a Star for its ‘Team

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

When Continental Airlines announced months ago that it was planning on a major switch from the SkyTeam alliance to Star Alliance, a breakup date remained unannounced. Well, the light is at the end of the tunnel. Continental will exit the Delta/Northwest-led alliance on October 24 with plans to join the much larger United-led Star Alliance shortly thereafter.

The importance of this announcement to travelers is larger than it seems. Delta and Northwest frequent fliers looking to redeem miles on Continental’s large international network (and its elite set of partners, which includes Emirates and Virgin Atlantic) should make award reservations before the Oct. 24 deadline. And Continental fliers should redeem their miles on Delta/Northwest’s combined international network (including flights on the legendary Singapore Airlines and newer Kingfisher Airlines) should also arrange their reservations soon.

Domestic fliers should know that reciprocal upgrades between Continental and Northwest will cease at that time as well. However, now that Delta and Northwest elite members can receive complimentary upgrades on each airline’s aircraft, upgrades for Continental fliers are farther and fewer between.

Awards will be honored for travel past the exit date, but new reservations will no longer be allowed. If you’re saving up for the trip of a lifetime, Oct. 24, 2009 should be marked in red on the calendar!

Woman 'Slightly Upset' Over Missing Flight [Video]

I've missed a flight or two in my day. I've also had a Jolt Cola or two in my day. But I've never had those two events occur simultaneously on a single day. But if they did, I think the following video of a lady at the Hong Kong airport, after missing her flight, would be a close approximation of what might happen. (There is aggressive shouting in the following video, those of you with speakers and no office privacy.)

World's Longest Airport Bar

As if producing the world’s best chocolate and watches were not enough, Switzerland is home to the world’s longest airport bar. Passengers traveling on Swiss International Airlines’ new First or Business Class products gain access to this 80-foot legend of airport domains. As many as 91 travelers can saddle up comfortably to order the drink of their choice (complimentary, of course), and a cigar menu is also available.

During my many visits to this swanky lounge, I always wonder if people intentionally book longer connections so they can enjoy this unique space.

And to add to its list of superlatives, Swiss International Airlines is unveiling new fully flat beds in its First and Business Class cabins. In First Class, side walls will cocoon duvet-draped passengers on the longest beds of any European airline in the air. And how does Swiss know exactly what its best customers want? Well, the airline consults with them on an individual basis!

Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis star who has taken home 13 Grand Slam titles, provided input on the design. While these seats are reserved for the likes of corporate big wigs and superstar celebrities, the world’s longest airport bar is open to a larger base of travelers including those who hold Star Alliance Gold status.

The next time you find yourself squeezed in between two loud and obnoxious travelers, just close your eyes and pretend you’re here.

Q400 Bombardier Plane Crashes Near Buffalo

A Q400 Bombardier Plane crashed in Clarence Center, a suburb of Buffalo, New York, on Thursday night. The flight, Continental Connection Flight 3407, was bound for Buffalo and originated in Newark. All 48 people on board were killed. The plane crash also destroyed a house killing one Clarence Center resident and injuring two others.

"At this point there is no information whatsoever as to what the cause may be," Collins said on Friday morning. There was no sign of a terrorist connection
to the crash at about 10:20 p.m. on Thursday (0320 GMT on Friday), said a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Recordings played on U.S. television networks showed the control tower in Buffalo lost contact with the plane as it was set to start its approach. There was no distress signal.

At this point the cause of the crash is still unknown. Although the weather conditions were common in New York this time of year (snowing, 32 degrees Fahrenheit), experts say it only takes a small amount of ice buildup to impact aerodynamics.

One of the passengers aboard the flight, Beverly Eckhart, 54, was a 9/11 widow on the way to celebrate her late husband's birthday with his family in Buffalo. Although Colgan Air, the line operating the flight, has not confirmed any of the names of those on board, Eckhart's sister told the Buffalo News... "We know she was on that plane, and now she's with him."

Sandals Negril Gets Green Recognition

The Sandals Negril Resort recently received Green Globe's Platinum certification for its achievements in sustainable tourism. Platinum is the highest of four certifications, outranking, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The recognition comes just more than 10 years after the resort received its first Green Globe certification. In the three years following their initial recognition, every Sandals property was revamped and retrofitted to reduce environmental impact, subsequently earning Green Globe certifications.

Green Globe director Claire Hendrie presented the award to Sandals' CEO Adam Stewart on February 5th.

"Looking to the future, we are changing the way we run our hotels to suit Mother Nature," Stewart said. "We created a division called Earthguard, composed of personnel with expertise in operations, design, engineering and the environment."

Any design project at the resorts must first pass muster by Earthguard to ensure that environmental preservation and protection are top of mind, according to Stewart.

"Anything we are designing from the onset has to be designed with environmental standards in mind," Stewart said.

Besides "greening" the resorts themselves, Sandals is trying to incorporate sustainable practices into all aspects of their business. For example, a new biodiesel refinery is being built to support the three Sandals properties on St. Lucia. If the initial efforts are successful, more "green" programs are expected to follow.

Tricks of the Trade: Max Out Your Int'l Seat

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

Overseas travelers can maximize their Economy class values by always requesting seats as far forward in the cabin as possible. Some airlines permit seat reservations at the time of booking, but others charge for the service or assign seats at check-in. It pays to arrive at the airport early to reserve seats as far forward as possible (remember to mention those exact words). Some airline companies assign seats from the back of the plane forward while others randomly assign seats.

Alitalia has aircraft (namely their MD-80 series) with larger Business Class seats installed, but on most flights these premium seats are not completely sold leaving them to Economy passengers in the first few rows. Travelers may not even realize they’ve been given these more spacious seats until boarding! Other airlines including Air France and Lufthansa provide Economy-style seats in Business Class and block off the middle seat for passengers paying the premium. This provides the flexibility to expand the Business Class cabin as needed, but this still proves beneficial to passengers booking window and aisle seats in the first few rows of these planes as the armrest is positioned differently offering a couple of extra inches.

This advice is strictly for narrowbody flights within Europe as many airlines operate larger equipment with a different inflight product on transcontinental or transoceanic services. Still, this signature trick of the trade is worth noting as the benefits of extra leg or arm room can always come in handy!

Locked Inside Your Heart Shaped ... Island

Google Earth is full of amazing new discoveries. Aside from seeing kids duel in a ridiculous fashion on a public lawn, there are amazing geographical additions to the world being found by the internets.

The newest -- and, dare I say, sweetest -- addition? A heart shaped island that has drawn the attention of romantics around the globe who are desperate for a stay on the uninhabited piece of terra firma.

The 130,000 square yard islet of Galesnjak came to prominence after its unusual shape was highlighted on Google Earth.

Even the owner of the uninhabited island - now known as Lovers' Island - didn't realise how perfectly heart-shaped the island off the Croatian coast was until he was swamped with requests from couples to stay there.

It's amazing to me that, somehow, this guy has flown over the island at least once or twice and not noticed it's freaking shape. More amazing though, is that he hasn't managed to capitalize on the island's shape and turn it into a honeymoon resort bonanza. It's a cash cow, folks.

Free Southwest Wifi During Beta Testing

In case you didn't need another awesome reason to get out of your chair and hop on an airplane, Southwest announced today that their in-flight wireless internet connection will be FREE during their beta testing (via Gizmodo).

Operated by Westlake Village, Calif.-based technology firm Row 44, the new Wi-Fi system will be tested for "the next few months," the company said. 

"Internet connectivity has been high on our list of priorities for quite some time," says Dave Ridley, senior vice president of marketing for Southwest Airlines, in a statement. 

As it should be -- it's amazing to me how we've come so far, technologically speaking (we put a man on the moon, man!), yet wireless internet is not easily accessible on airplanes yet. 

But hey, one small step for mankind, right? At least this one's free.

FareFinder: February 10

With poor economy comes great responsibility. Or something ridiculous like that. Farefinder brings the best deals around the web to lighten the travel weight on your wallet. 

Continental.com specials for the week

Southwest Airlines Yes You Can! sale offers $49 one-way flights

NCL's Freestyle Resolution: Up to $250 on-board credit and $99 sailings

Princess Cruises continues its Balcony Bonanza deals

Single in NYC? Mandarin Oriental has a plan

New Valentine's Crossword Up

We've heard your clambering and demands for more crosswords. (It's quite loud, actually, so if you could keep it down, we'd appreciate it, thanks.)

As a result of said noise, we have a new Crossword this week for you. Naturally, it centers around Valentine's Day. Or, as it's known in some circles: "Singles' Awareness Day."

You can test your quizzical love skillz right here. If you're so inclined.

Mandarin Oriental Beijing Catches Fire [Video]

D already covered the terrible fire that occurred in the Mandarin Oriental Beijing today, but video has also emerged of the building's first few moments after catching fire, as captured by someone driving down a nearby interstate. The footage is surrounded by montages of the hotel before and after the fire.

Via Sharebro Skeets

Mandarin Oriental Fire in Beijing, China

The Mandarin-Oriental Hotel in Beijing, China, suffered a devastating fire Monday night.

The newly-constructed hotel was unoccupied at the time, its opening date having been pushed back from the original target of late 2008. Although the blaze was contained by fire fighters before it spread to nearby buildings, damage to the luxury hotel was extensive.

The cause of the blaze at the 40-story Mandarin Oriental is not known, and there were no reports of injuries... The fire began at about 9 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) and continued to burn an hour later.

The fire occurred during the closing hours of Chinese New Year celebrations when fireworks were being set off all over the city. Although the offical source of the fire remains undetermined, some speculators have cited the fireworks as a possible cause.

Good News on US Airways: Pillows; Bad News: They're $7

Pillows and blankets on air travel are absolutely crucial, especially on longer flights. Airplanes know this, which is why they make them so gosh-darn hard to actually get a hold of (you have to be first on the plane, etc.)

But now, you can have all the pillows your head desires with the "Power-Nap Sack". It just costs seven bucks a piece.

Jackson said the sleep kit was an affordable way for passengers to increase their comfort while flying.

The kits include a 34-by-60-inch fleece blanket, a neck pillow, eye shades,foam ear plugs and a $10-off coupon for items in the SkyMall catalog. They come in a fleece drawstring bag embroidered with the airline's logo.

Oh, well, if there's an embroidered fleece drawstring bag, just forget I ever considered saying anything snarky about having to cough up $7 for this beautiful pile of airplane semi-rest.

Again, airplanes obviously make more money than me (no, seriously, even in bad quarters) so I'm not one to tell them how to run their business. But when it already costs $15 to check bags and then another $7 gets tacked on just to sleep in the already brutally uncomfortable airplane, well, I kind of tend to think there's a smarter, more consumer friendly way to handle all of this.

Darwin Harbour, Australia Plane Crash [Video]

This obviously isn't the first time this has happened recently. Fortunately, everyone appears to be uninjured.

Speech Recognition: American Airlines Goes High-Tech

American Airlines announced today that it will be adding speech recognition technology for its frequent travelers.

The technology, provided by Microsoft affiliate Tellme, will recognize AAdvantage members' phone numbers and greet them by name when they call to make a reservation. The system also automatically offers gate and flight information.

The technology is designed to save the airline money by reducing the need for employees to handle customer calls, although American spokesman Charley Wilson said the intent was to improve customer service, not cut jobs.

Other companies like Domino's Pizza have already utilized Tellme's technology to reduce the cost of training new operators and reducing the number of calls that need to be handled by a real person. While customers will no doubt enjoy the convenience of the new technology, it's unclear yet what lays in store for American Airlines phone operators.

For the record, despite American Airlines billing this as speech recognition, it's really just phone number recognition. If you're interested in learning about real airline technologies, check out American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum of aviation in Dallas, T.X.

Google Earth Sometimes Gets a Little Awkward

Google Earth is probably one of the more overhyped inventions from the software giant. Is it cool that I can zoom into my house and see my car? Yes, it's very cool. But does this superzoomglobe thing remotely help me in any pratical way? No. Not really.

However, the very impracticality of it creates scenarios that are hysterical. Hence, someone managed to create the "Top 10 Moments Caught on Google [Earth] Street View" (via Digg).

My personal favorite, and number one, is above: the two dudes having a Star Wars fight in the middle of a lawn. It's almost like George Michael filming over his grandparents 40th anniversary wedding tape, only with more real people and less embarrassing proof of who they are.

There are some disturbing ones on here as well (the tragic passing of a deer, public urination, a burning house) and some pretty funny ones too (girl flashing Google Earth car, drunk guy asleep on a lawn) but the point is this: you are always being watched. So trust no one.

Actually, the point is that if you see the Google Earth car, put down your Star Wars gear and try to act cool.

Kennel to Open in Dallas Fortworth Airport

Earlier this week the Dallas/Fortworth International Airport board comittee approved plans for a kennel to be constructed inside the airport.

Called, "McKee's Pet Place," the establishment isn't just going to be a place to stash your pooch or kitty. The kennel has been described as a "luxury suite" for dogs and runs US$40 per night.

The main appeal will be the hours: the new Pet Place will be open 24 hours so you can snag your pet at any time. One of the frustrations with a lot of pet boarding is snagging your pet before closing time.

If you'd rather travel with your pet than board it, take a look at our Hotels for Dogs list. Written by a dog-lover and Professional Travel Guide editor, the list offers the inside scoop on the best cities and hotels to visit with your four-legged friend.

Flight 1549: Full of Bird Body Parts

Good news is abounding for those folks who are waiting on their luggage from Flight 1549: you might not have to hold out that long. That's because the investigation on why the flight crashed is already underway and in case it wasn't abundantly obvious, there was a bird involved.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (via Airline Biz):

"The left (#1) engine, which was recovered from the Hudson River on January 23 and subsequently shipped to the manufacturer in Cincinnati where the NTSB is directing a teardown, was found to contain bird remains.

"The organic material found in the right (#2) engine has also been confirmed to be bird remains. The material from both engines has been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington where the particular bird species will be identified."

[...]During the accident flight, the flight data recorder revealed no anomalies or malfunctions in either engine up to the point where the captain reported a bird strike, after which there was an uncommanded loss of thrust in both engines.

Well, gee, thanks for the heads up, folks. It's refreshing to know that the obvious problem here -- a bird flying into the engine of a plane -- caused the obvious effect: the plane crashed. It's especially nice to feel the soft touch of security that comes from wasting millions of dollars to find this out. 

On the bright side, we did get to see Flight 1549 towed through town!

Hands-on Education for the 21st Century Student

Forget reading boring textbook drawl to learn a subject. Anthony’s Key Resort in Roatan, Honduras is taking ecotourism to a new level through its cooperation with various American universities including the University of Minnesota, Birmingham Southern, and Drury University. These academic institutions send professors and students to the resort for weeks at a time to study at the property’s own Marine Science Institute while getting hands-on experience through daily dives and snorkel adventures. How’s that for hands-on learning?

Private laboratories onsite help students to study specimen from the water while classrooms provide a location for daily instruction. A museum boasts exhibits with contributions from the national ministry of tourism. Who would have thought studying for an exam involved swinging in a hammock by the crashing waves on a sandy beach? But, at Anthony’s Key, cramming has never been more relaxing.

The evenings see a variety of live entertainment that bring the cultural roots of Honduras to the eyes and ears of students while the culinary offering takes Central American cuisine to their taste buds from experienced chefs.

Students clamor for the opportunity to partake in these courses. The business of ecotourism is booming in Latin America, and Anthony’s Key Resort is a great example of the next generation of responsible tourism.

San Francisco, Washington Are Targets for New GM Hybrid Development

GM is scrambling their pretty little corporate jet owning faces off to look good in the public eye these days. 

One of the main aspects they're focusing on (finally!) is electricity powered cars. You know, those kooky little "hybrid" things. The Chevy Volt is the next in line, and it's being aimed at certain geographical areas.

GM said that it working with the municipalities of San Francisco and the Washington, D.C., metro area as "early adopter markets" that will create incentives to buy electric cars and build an infrastructure to support them.

"Collaborating with communities such as San Francisco and metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C.--where there's already an interest in plug-in vehicles--is another important step toward raising customer awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of vehicles such as the Volt," said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet, in a statement.

So, um, yay? Or something. I guess it's awesome that GM's making this huge huff about bringing electric cars into the limelight but, uh, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, GM? I've had to sing about Earth day since I was in like fourth grade ... and that wasn't exactly yesterday.

But, ridiculousness of automakers aside, how does this affect you, the traveler? Well, batteries for these puppies are really expensive. But, interestingly, once a lot of people stop using a ton of gasoline, guess what will happen to the price? Yup. You got it. And then suddenly it becomes a lot harder for airlines to justify their per ticket costs against what they need to operate planes.

A different kind of art tour

If you enjoy the quirkiness and inspiration of traveling art shows, you should consider traveling yourself... the destination? Aomori, Japan.

There are plenty of great artistic and cultural experiences to be had in Japan: beautiful gardens, cherry blossom festivals, palaces, historic sites, religious temples, Kabuki theater. Most of the art and culture is steeped in rich tradition, but one area (Aomori) started taking a new approach to old designs in 1993.

Every year, farmers in the town of Inakadate in Aomori, Japan create vast works of art in their rice paddies. It’s done by planting purple and yellow-leafed rice along with their local green-leafed variety. These rice paddy images are visible during the growing season, until the harvest in September. Other images rendered have included dragons, the Mona Lisa, Mount Fuji and former emperors.

The Aomori Prefecture is roughly 550km north of Tokyo (about 3 and 1/2 hours travel time). On the way up the spine of Honshu Island, you'll be treated to some of the best mountain views Japan has to offer.

Flight 1549 Towed Through New Jersey

Flight 1549 has been all the rage for the past few weeks; understandably, considering it's an airplane that splashed down in the Hudson River.

And it was really put on display yesterday, as it was towed out of NYC and through New Jersey (see above) to it's final resting spot. Which is probably a junk yard while it awaits investigation.

Actually, wait, it is a junk yard. So why doesn't everyone have their luggage back yet, then?

The plane was transported on a huge flatbed trailer after the wings and tail section were removed for transport on another trailer. The operation took place on blocked streets from the marina in Jersey City where it was parked to its final destination, Supor Industries salvage in Harrison. It'll stay there for 18 months for the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. A sight like this ranks pretty high on our "stuff you'd don't see every day" meter.

Indeed. Right up there with "a plane landing safely in the Hudson River."

Denver B-Cycle Program Expanding

Denver's Mayor, John Hickenlooper, recently announced plans to expand its bike-sharing program. The Denver B-Cycle program is already underway, but the current proposals would see the program expanded significantly by summer of 2009. The bikes would be free of charge and rented out on a daily basis from 30-40 different "stations" around the city.

Conveniently located near hotels, light-rail stations, college campuses and museums, bike rental stations are easily accessible to both visitors and residents. All that is required is a swipe of your credit card, and you leave with a bike of your own. Bike rentals are entirely free as long as the bike is returned to the rental location by 10 a.m. the following business day.

The Denver B-Cycle program already has 500 bicycles for public use and plans to add plenty more. With more than 850 miles of paved bike paths, Denver is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. As part of its efforts to expand the availability of bikes, the city will also be adding bike lanes and "shared" lanes for bicycle traffic.

Tricks of the Trade: How to Upgrade Your Airline Seat

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

Scoring an award seat with frequent flyer miles can seem like a crap shoot, but it is more like a scientific experiment. Most airlines prefer that you visit their web sites to make your award reservations, but the secret to bagging an award is calling the airline directly. But, calling the airline without a plan is useless. Passengers are still charged with finding the seat online and then coaxing the agent into finding and reserving the seat on their behalf as most partner carriers cannot be booked online.

Numerous tools are available to the savvy traveler depending on the airline alliance with which one is traveling. For travelers on SkyTeam, visit www.nwa.com/jp to search for expanded award availability and then for Star Alliance, one can visit ANA (All Nippon Airways) www.ana.com and sign up for their frequent flyer program. Once a member, the airline offers award availability for most Star Alliance carriers with the notable exception of Swiss International Airlines and United Airlines.

By doing a bit of homework before calling the airline, award seats are easy to snag if one is flexible with dates and routings. Plus when airlines launch a new route, it is more likely that they will offer increased award availability on it as it catches hold with the traveling public. So don’t fret, your award miles are not useless. They offer incredible potential if one is willing to do some advance preparation and pay the small fee incurred to book over the phone.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Announce Location of 2010 Calendar Shoot

The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are probably more popular than the team itself. After all, at least they're still around in January. Plus, there's less drama. (Zingers all over the place, eh?) 

And, of course, they're better looking. So if you ever get a chance to join these fine, upstanding ladies for their annual calendar photoshoot, you should probably do that. 

Wait ... what? There's a resort offering a "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Package"? Get out. No, seriously, there is. According to PR reps for the Atlantis resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas, the Cowboys' cheerleading crew will be on the island between February 22 and March 1, "posing for next year's calendar and participating in special guest activities, including cheer clinics, beach yoga and even helping guests build their own Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Pal."

Now, I have no idea what the hell that last one is, but "beach yoga" sounds decently enticing. As does the price on this puppy! Five days, four nights starting at $579 with bonus stuff that includes: one free night (presumably already built in), two free "dolphin interactions" at Dolphin Cay ("Key") and  admission to Aura, a nightclub for sexy people.

Oh yes, and the cheerleaders themselves: you get to hang out the whole time they're there in addition to a meet and greet with the squad and admission to the VIP photo shoot wrap party at Aura (February 28 for you pre-planners) which I'm sure won't involve body shots at all. 

So, gentlemen, what I recommend is reworking ye olde Valentine's Day present and practicing your best "OH MY! WHAT A COINCIDENCE, HONEY!" face.