Travel News
Best 50 Travel Websites . . . Ever!
The Independent has a list of their top 50 travel websites, which, annoyingly enough, is readable only one click at a time (can you say “ad sales”?). So if you have about an hour to spare today (come on it’s Friday, of course you do), stretch out your right hand, grap a cup of tea […]
Tourism Down 2% In 2009: China To Make Up Difference
The United Nations released their prediction this week that tourism is expected to drop 2% this year (minimum) with many insiders predicting that number to go as high as 5%. This all comes from the World Tourism Organization (is there anything those sprites over at the UN don’t do?), which is also predicting that China’s […]
Top 15 “See-Them-Before-They’re Gone” Sights
Smithsonian’s cataloging their top 15 historic/artistic sights on the verge of a total breakdown, including sights ranging from the incredibly long (Route 66, U.S.A.) to the incredibly old (Jaisalmer Fort, India). Other sights that make the list include the Port City of Coro, Venezuela; the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem; and the Xumishan Grottoes, China. […]
Lonely Planet Announces Layoffs Amidst Recession
It seemed almost inevitable, but with travel down as much as much 10% in parts of the world and likely to erode further, everyone in the industry is facing cutbacks, and this includes Lonely Planet, which recently sent out this announcement to its employees announcing 40 “redundancies” (that’s British for getting axed) as guidebooks and […]
Bourdain In Vietnam To Close Out Season 5A (Yes There’s A “B” Coming In August)
Don’t ask me why the Travel Channel splits up their seasons using an “A” and “B” instead of just starting with a new number, but I remember Andrew Zimmern mentioning this back at the NYT Travel Show when he was saying that he was either in his sixth or third season, depending on how you […]
Transatlantic Fare War (Cont . . .)
Now it looks like Virgin’s getting into the act as well, dropping fares from NYC to London down to basically $0 (too bad you still have to pay those pesky fuel surcharges and taxes). This cut also marks a forgettable milestone: British travel decreased in 2008 for only the second time ever. You know it’s […]
Kayak: The Google Of Travel?
The Waldorf-Astoria’s under $300 on Mondays. What a deal! Kayak’s gone ahead and added a handy new feature called a “rate calendar,” a calendar (appropriately with rates) that breaks down the average price of a room by day for you right-brain visual people. I have to credit Budget Travel with scooping this story, but of […]
Attention Coffee Shop Owners: New Putumayo Release
I don’t know what it it, but there’s something about the Putumayo CDs that remind me of coffee shops and craft stores. This may have something to do with the fact that half the coffee shops and craft stores in the world are playing Putumayo when you walk in, which is not really a bad […]
Bourdain Brings His Punk Rock Sensibility And Aloha Shirts To The Philippines This Week
Anthony’s doing No Reservations from the Philippines this week, where, for some reason, he felt compelled to walk the streets of Manila sampling chicken balls (not what you’re thinking) and Pansit (stir-fried noodle dish) while decked in a flowery Aloha shirt. Tony, this is the Philippines. Not Hawaii. Not Kappa Sig’s backyard. Please don’t make […]
One Year Until Winter Olympics: Rejoice Curling Fans Around The World
It seemed like just yesterday that I was getting over my Olympic fever, Commonwealth Games hysteria, and X-Games nausea, but now the Winter Olympics 2012 are less than a year away and Vancouver is gearing up, and I’m loading up on my Dramamine to handle it all. Of course, the smart traveler would head now […]