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Travel News Archives

2007 Archives

December 29, 2007

December 18, 2007

Under the new Open Skies agreements, airline alliances could become a thing of the past, or they might actually gain some value for travelers. Open Skies goes into effect in March 2008, and only time will tell what the new routes are and how individual airlines will be affected. Here is a wrapup of members of each of the three airline alliances. One thing we would recommend, is that if possible book any multi-leg trips on airlines within one alliance – the process from reservations through frequent-flyer mileage credit will be much more seamless. All three alliance websites (SkyTeam, Star Alliance, oneworld) have a useful routing/flight tool, as well as other good information.

• oneworld
  American Airlines
  British Airways
  Cathy Pacific
  Finnair
  Iberia
  Japan Airlines
  Lan
  Malev
  Qantas
  Royal Jordanian

• Star Alliance
  Adria
  Air Canada
  Air China
  Air New Zealand
  ANA
  Asiana
  Austrian
  Blue 1
  BMI
  Croatia Airlines
  Lot Polish Airlines
  Lufthansa
  SAS Scandinavian Airlines
  Shanghai Airlines
  Singapore Airlines
  South African Airways
  Spannair
  SWISS
  TAP Portugal
  THAI
  Turkish Airlines
  United Airlines
  US Airways

• SkyTeam
  Aeroflot
  AeroMexico
  Air Europa
  Air France/KLM
  Alitalia
  China Southern
  Copa Airlines
  Continental Airlines
  Czech Airlines
  Delta Airlines
  Kenya Airlines
  Korean Air
  Northwest Airlines
  
  

December 4, 2007

In a November 26 Newsweek article, Fareed Zakaria reports some depressing statistics about travel to the U.S. During what is probably the world’s largest tourism boom, the U.S. is the only major country which has seen foreign visitation decline.
The article notes that Brits – “people from America’s closest ally, the overwhelming majority...white Anglos with names like Smith and Jones” – have reduced their visits to the U.S. by 11 percent. During the same time frame, the British visitation to India increased 102 percent, to New Zealand 106 percent, and to the Caribbean 31 percent.
Of course, there are many reasons (excuses) for this decline in inbound U.S. tourism, but the prime culprit is the cabal of TSA, Homeland Security, the INS, and a government which wants to keep Americans in fear – fear of the unknown, fear of foreigners, in fear so we will be as docile as sheep when they tap our phones without warrants.
Not only do international visitors enrich us culturally, they contribute greatly to our economy. The article notes that the 17 percent overall decline in tourism since 9/11 represents $94 billion in lost tourism spending, a loss of 200,000 jobs, and $16 billon in lost tax revenues.
In our observations, most Americans enjoy international visitors, and are proud to show off our homeland. Unfortunately, everyday Americans don’t set government policy, so this situation is unlikely to change in the near future.

November 25, 2007

While it’s not exactly a travel site, www.city-data.com provides an exceptional breadth of statistics about communities across the U.S. – demographics, weather stats, photos, and tons more info. The forums might be most interesting to visitors, as posters discuss cell phone coverage, restaurants, weather, and a host of other topics.

October 21, 2007

Public transportation system variations between U.S. states isn’t as complicated and varied as they can be between, say, England and Austria, but it’s still confusing. Do you keep your train ticket? Do you have to validate your ticket yourself? What places on the bus schedule does the bus stop at, and which does it just go through?
The website publictransportation.org attempts to gather links to U.S. mass-transit systems in one place, but it unfortunately simply links to each agency’s website, rather than actually explaining in consistent terms how to use each system. Furthermore, it first lists transit systems within each state by county. How many of us know what county in Illinois Chicago is in?
Nonetheless, it’s the one place in the U.S. we’ve found that even lists this information in a central place. A nice start, and hopefully the system can be improved in the future.

October 2, 2007

Lonely Planet – the quirky company that brought travel guidebooks to the masses and, in part, created the travel boom we have today – has been sold to the BBC Worldwide, according to Internet Travel News.
We’re not sure how this will affect Lonely Planet’s many fans. It may (as the sale press release notes) “the association will strengthen Lonely Planet’s visibility and growth potential, particularly in the digital arena.” Lonely Planet’s web presence has, in our opinion, left much to be desired, and this may be a good move on their part.
We often have complaints with particulars in Lonely Planet’s guidebooks, yet nonetheless own more of theirs than from any other publisher (partly, because, they publish such a huge variety). In general, we prefer to support the little guy, and are often saddened when they sell out to the big boys, but we can’t see too many negatives for this one.

September 30, 2007

Well, the worst summer for air travel is over. We've completed our move. And we're back on track to continue bringing you the best information about travelling to America.
The Washington Post tells us that the amount of "mishandled" luggage has doubled since 2002. We'd personally love to always travel with only a small carry-on, but that isn't practical. But luggage shipping services are: Watch for our Special Report on them soon. In addition, consider the odd suggestion of buying most of your clothing at your destination, and then shipping it home (cheaper, slower, but then you don't need those clothes for your vacation). See our article about that method of travelling on our How To Travel Europe site.

July 24, 2007

Finally, some hotels are getting it. Five Marriott hotel brands — Courtyard, Farifield, Residence Inn, SpringHill, and TownePlace — have eliminated fees for in-room internet access, as well as now offering free lobby and public-area WiFi service. Let's hope the rest of the Marriott chain — and every other hotel in America — soon sees the light.

July 11, 2007

We’ve sometimes mentioned that regional airports are often better options than relying completely on large international hubs. A recent article in USA Today reiterates this, pointing out the constant congestion and delays at New York’s JFK airport. There are direct international flights to many other airports around the U.S.

July 2, 2007

By now, everyone should know the news about the bombing attempts in London and at Glasgow airport. The UK terror alert levels have been raised, air passengers are being encouraged to only arrive at UK airports by public transportation, and other security measures are in place. On a practical level for most travellers, this means one simple thing – PLAN MORE TIME. More time to get to the airport, more time at check-in and security, and more time for just about everything associated with air travel. Don't forget that his will also affect your flights leaving European airports coming to the U.S., as well as your return flights into European airports.

June 29, 2007

Trip Advisor’s annual “Top 10 U.S. Attractions” list is out. True to its word, all but one on the list (the Grand Canyon) are man-made “attractions.” Nonetheless, these are the places that travellers voted for.

1. Orlando, Florida (Universal Studios, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and everything Disney)
2. Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
5. Central Park, New York City
6. Alcatraz, San Francisco, California
7. Top of the Rock Observation Deck, New York,
8. Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
9. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
10. San Diego Zoo, California

June 14, 2007

As with most things governmental, the recent passport requirements for travel between the U.S. and Canada are taking longer to implement than anticipated. The U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries issued the following statement on June 12.

"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through Sept. 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand."

Some bloggers have mentioned a requirement for a birth certificate during this temporary period. We don't see this in the above statement.

June 1, 2007

First he came on film, now he’s coming to a bookstore near you. Borat, the (fictional) wanderer from Kazakhstan, is writing a book of travel tips to the U.S. Maybe we should be worried about the competition, but we imagine Borat’s book (written, of course, by Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor behind Borat) will have some wonderful insights not available in How To Travel America. The book, tentatively titled, Borat: Touristic Guidings To Minor Nation of U.S. and A. and Borat: Touristic Guidings To Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, will also include a travel guide to Kazakhstan for American tourists visiting that country. We can’t wait to see a copy.

May 17, 2007

One of the most spectacular roads in America — the Tioga Pass Road, which crosses the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains of California — finally opened last week. Tioga Pass is the gateway between Yosemite Valley on the west and the High Sierra (including Tuolumne Meadows) on the east. Some facilities are still not open, but many should be by the Memorial Day Weekend holiday.

May 15, 2007

Can you say, “unhappy”? In general, U.S. airlines scored lower than all but one of 19 industries in customer satisfaction, according to the University of Michigan. On a scale with 100 being the best, the airline industry scored 63. For comparison, the cable/satellite TV industry scored the worst at 62, and even the Internal Revenue Service managed to beat the airlines with a 65.

May 7, 2007

The Telegraph (UK) newspaper’s website recently concluded that British travelers can save considerably by purchasing UK-to-Europe air tickets from U.S. booking sites (such as Travelocity and Cheaptickets). If you’re flying from Europe to North America, the same tactic may work to reduce your airfare costs. The Telegraph reminded travelers to make sure that any U.S. booking sites used accept credit cards not issued by a U.S. bank

April 30, 2007

It will affect local commuters more than visitors, but yesterday’s collapse of a section of freeway leading to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will impact traffic all thorough the area, especially for this summer travel season. Officials expect that repairs will take several months, and advised drivers to use public transportation in and out of San Francisco. Trains have been added to the rail system, and bus and ferry operators have also expanded service.

April 29, 2007

Gas has always been less expensive in the U.S. than almost anywhere else in the world (outside maybe Venezuela or Saudi Arabia). Recently, several news sources as diverse as the San Jose Mercury News, the Seattle Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, ABC News, and CNNMoney have been warning about possible $4 per gallon gas this summer. Whatever the price tops out at (as it always does during the summer vacation driving season), have a little extra in your budget for higher gas prices.

April 20, 2007

Kansas wants to be more on the minds of travelers and tourists. The state, through the non-profit Kansas Sampler Foundation, is soliciting nominations for The Eight Wonders of Kansas. To us, Kansas is a state of sweeping vistas, beautiful tall-grass prairies, and, well, more nice stuff.
The Associated Press reports that Caleb Asher, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, told The Wichita Eagle: “The best places you can find are in those small towns, in some of those family-owned restaurants that fix fried chicken and fresh-baked pies.”
The Eight Wonders campaign is seeking nominations through May 6, when 24 finalists will be selected. Voting on the finalists will continue until December 31, and the eight winners will be announced on “Kansas Day,” January 29, 2008.

April 19, 2007

If you’re a traveler and a skier, you’re probably already anticipating the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. And what will be the best way to see the vast slopes of the Alpine ski venues at Whistler? How about a new 2.7-mile-long (4.4 km) gondola which will stretch from the peaks of Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain. Scheduled for completion in December 2008, the gondola will feature a free span of nearly 1.9 miles (3 km) and will have 28 cabins, each capable of holding 28 passengers. Whistler’s Peak to Peak website has artist’s views and information.

April 16, 2007

Road Trippers: Mark your calendars. The world’s "longest" yard sale is coming to U.S. Highway 40 from May 30 to June 3. The Historic National Road Yard Sale features 824 miles of antiques, junk, treasures, produce, and everything imaginable. Highway 40 weaves through Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1806, and was also the first federally funded interstate highway.

April 11, 2007

American Airlines has come out with a new website and (obviously) a new marketing campaign aimed at woman travelers (www.aa.com/women). While we applaud most everything that contributes to equality of the sexes, we’re not exactly sure what to make of American’s effort. Do women really want or need different booking or destination information? Is there some added value for the female traveler in using a sex-specific website? Take a look at our How To Travel blog for a longer article (co-written by a man and a woman) about this topic.

April 9, 2007

A few odds-and-ends from this week’s travel news:

• American Airlines has begun non-stop service between Seattle, Washington, and Austin, Texas — two small-but-wonderful cultural hubs.
• The Sacramento, California, airport has begun an expansion which will add parking, a new terminal, and a hotel. Sacramento is a less-busy alternative to San Francisco, and is good for exploring northern and central California.
• Google Maps is expanding its offerings, and has a fun audio and photo tour of the iconic Route 66. You can visit the tour here.
  
  

April 3, 2007

As an example of what winter conditions can be like in the U.S., crews in Washington state just began (March 26) clearing snow from the North Cascades Highway, which traverses some of the most spectacular mountains in the west. The road is not expected to be open until mid May.

March 23, 2007

It’s been in the works for a long time, but it looks like the open skies agreement between the U.S. and the European Union may actually happen. EU transportation ministers voted unanimously for it, and now all it takes is for the U.S. Congress to also approve it. Should this come to pass (implementation is scheduled to begin in October), the major benefit to travelers would seem to be more point-to-point routes between the U.S. and Europe, and certainly more competition.

March 21, 2007

From the “dubious good news department” comes the announcement that Priceline, the bid-your-price air and hotel booking website, has teamed up with Zagat to offer hotel reviews. For folks who like Zagat’s reviews (we generally don’t) this could be helpful in choosing from the many hotel options at your destination.

March 13, 2007

Vancouver Olympics 2010 News: Several new luxury hotels, including the Shangri-La Vancouver and the Fairmont Pacific Rim are under construction. The city is also building a new 19-kilometer light-rail link between the airport and downtown. In addition, the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler is undergoing a $600-million upgrade.

March 7, 2007

Spirit Airlines, serving primarily the eastern U.S. and the Caribbean, is scheduled to begin charging for all checked baggage on June 20, 2007. We’d hesitate to put a price on this (although Spirit has), because we’re somewhat skeptical that this added charge will stick. Spirit also plans to begin charging for all drinks – including coffee, soft drinks, juices – except water.

March 5, 2007

Keep your eyes open for new luggage tracking systems in the near future. Several airports are evaluating the possible use of Radio-Frequency ID baggage tags (RFID), and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, has already begun using the system. RFID promises to allow airlines and airports to better track and route checked baggage, hopefully reducing the number of lost of “mishandled” bags.

February 13, 2007

An excellent article about parking status at U.S. airports is posted today on USAToday’s website. Depending on the airport (and many major U.S. airports now seem to have some sort of system), the parking conditions are displayed on the airport’s website, via roadway signs, using low-power “local” radio stations, and/or at lot/garage entrances.

February 12, 2007

British Airways has instituted a new checked-baggage policy, which seems to indicate that coach-class passengers will be limited to one bag checked free, weighing no more than 23 kg (50 lb). Additional bags will be charged on a varying scale. The exceptions are, quoting British Airways, “World Traveller [economy/coach] customers travelling/connecting to or from the US, Canada, Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico will continue to be allowed two checked bags in line with the local government regulations.” If you’re planning to fly BA to/from a European destination to Asia, Africa, other parts of Europe, or anywhere else, be prepared to check only one bag for free. Details are available on British Airways website.

February 8, 2007

According to media reports, JetBlue (US) and Aer Lingus (Ireland) are forming a strategic alliance. Aer Lingus claims the partnership “would be the world's first tie-up between two international low-cost carriers,” according to Reuters news service. “The partnership will [allow] customers to make just one booking, which will allow them to travel from Ireland to the U.S. and onto a direct JetBlue flight to 51 destinations,” according to Aer Lingus. The alliance is expected to be put in place this summer.

February 6, 2007

In the constantly changing world of airline luggage allowances, Spirit Airlines has announced that passengers will only be allowed one free checked bag, weighing no more than 50 pounds. Spirit operates primarily along the eastern U.S. and to the Caribbean.

February 2, 2007

Non-stop flights from Europe to the U.S. keep increasing. Travel Weekly says that German airline LTU International will begin service between Dusseldorf, Germany, and both Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, sometime in May.

February 1, 2007

American Airlines announced it will offer service between Rome and the U.S. (Chicago and New York) year-round, rather than just seasonally.

January 23, 2007

Beginning today, all passengers traveling by air to or from the United States will be required to hold a valid passport. This new requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, even those traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. U.S. citizens traveling by land or sea from and to the U.S.A. are not scheduled to need passports until January 1, 2008. The new passport requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory, including Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

January 22, 2007

January 17, 2007

One of our favorite USA Today travel columnists, Roger Yu, recently predicted several trends for travel in the coming year. Here are a few of his observations:

• Beginning in mid year, several airlines plan to install iPod connections in their in-flight entertainment systems. It is scheduled to be available on some flights by United, Delta, Continental, Air France, Emirates, and KLM airlines.
• JetBlue plans to expand XM Satellite Radio service to more of its Airbus A320 fleet.
• JetBlue will also begin testing a new function in its kiosks that would allow customers to change their flight and pay the difference.
• Wyndham Hotels says it will issue tablet PCs to clerks to check in guests as they enter the front door.
• Alamo, which introduced the rental car industry’s first electronic kiosks late last year, plans to install them at about 80 locations by this summer. The kiosk prints the rental agreement for customers with reservations so that they can go directly to the car.
• Continental Airlines has a new plan to e-mail passengers a bar code prior to their flight. By waving the bar code stored in their PDA or printed on paper under a check-in kiosk’s reader, passengers can pull up their records for quicker check-in.
  
  

January 15, 2007

January 11, 2007

The suspense is over. United Airlines received the go-ahead for its newly proposed route to China (see Travel News October 8, 2006). The route will be a nonstop flight from Washington D.C. (Dulles airport) to Beijing. The flights will probably begin in late March.

January 8, 2007

Several significant airport improvement projects are scheduled to be completed this year, including:

• MIAMI In March, Miami International plans to complete its $914 million South Terminal. The terminal will house the newly built Concourse J, which will have 15 gates. It will also be the new home for Concourse H, a 14-gate facility that has been recently renovated. More than 20 airlines are scheduled to occupy the terminal. They include United and its partners in the Star Alliance, as well as Delta and its partners in the SkyTeam Alliance. The terminal will also have new concession areas and a bus station for cruise ship lines.
• LAS VEGAS Las Vegas McCarran airport is scheduled to open its new car rental facility in the first quarter of 2007. The facility will be one of the largest car rental garages in the country. Forty shuttle buses will transport car renters between the facility and the airport.
• LOS ANGELES In May, LAX plans to open new airline lounges at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
• ATLANTA Delta, the largest tenant in Hartsfield-Jackson airport, is scheduled to complete the makeover of its lobby by summer. The project calls for knocking down walls and back offices to create more open space. Once completed, the lobby will have 18 more check-in kiosks for a total of 98, and the number of check-in stations will nearly double to 112 from the current 60.
  
  

January 1, 2007

2006 Archives

December 12, 2006

• The percentage of travellers likely to go hiking on vacation rose from 24% a year ago to 43%.
• Likewise, the percentage planning to partake in adventure activities jumped from 29% to 39%.
• Not surprisingly, there was a corresponding decrease in travellers intending to visit a spa, down from 55% last year to 47% in this survey.
• And the always-popular road trip is getting more interest, with 81% planning to drive this year, versus 71% last year.
  
  

December 6, 2006

1. US Airways (including America West) - 407 votes
2. United Airlines - 307 votes
3. Delta Air Lines - 305 votes
4. Northwest Airlines - 279 votes
5. Southwest Airlines - 276 votes
6. American Airlines - 229 votes
7. Continental Airlines - 191 votes

As Chris says, we present this list without much comment. We’ve flown on every one of these airlines within the last few years, and might re-order the list slightly (rating the “old” America West and United somewhat better, and Southwest somewhat worse), but it’s an interesting observation about U.S. airlines.

December 5, 2006

November 29, 2006

While we’re generally not big fans of USA Today’s printed newspaper, the travel section of the USA Today website is one of the best travel resources we’ve discovered. There are several excellent columnists, and the Today in the Sky travel blog by Ben Mutzabaugh is a must-read for us every day. Another useful feature is the real-time flight-delay map. Other editorial content is also good. Recently, the site featured an article on Great Airport Moments in Film. There have been lots of best “travel” movie lists, but airports – we found that fascinating and hilarious. (Our favorite film airport moments – mentioned in the article, and both oddly different – are from Casablanca and This is Spinal Tap.)

November 27, 2006

A recent survey by the Travel Industry Association of America revealed some interesting habits and preferences of travelers in the United States.

• Fifty-four percent of survey respondents said they were interested in going to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate.
• Twenty-four percent said they were interested in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation.
• Thirty-five percent said they were interested in traveling to places that cater to children.
• Twenty-five percent said they were interested in taking a spiritual vacation (religious retreat, pilgrimage, etc.).
• Fifty-six percent said they were interested in taking an educational trip.
  
  

November 24, 2006

November 16, 2006

Europcar, the largest car rental company in the UK, has purchased the National and Alamo brands in Europe from Vanguard EMEA. In addition, Europcar has entered into a 10-year partnership with Vanguard’s National and Alamo brands in the U.S. For international travelers who choose to rent with National or Alamo, this may provide a more seamless reservation process between U.S. and European rentals.

November 13, 2006

November 10, 2006

November 1, 2006

October 18, 2006

October 8, 2006

September 27, 2006

September 22, 2006

UK airports have issued the following updated information about carry-on baggage: “Passengers are permitted to carry ONE item of hand baggage, no larger than the specified size, through the airport security search point. The dimensions* are as follows:

• 56 centimetres long (approximately 22 inches)
  
• 45 centimetres high (approximately 17.5 inches)
• 25 centimetres deep (approximately 9.85 inches)

* This is the maximum bag size allowed through security. Smaller bag sizes may apply depending on which airline you travel with. We therefore advise you to contact your airline, especially if you are travelling with Ryanair, Easyjet, or Flybe.” (BAA.com)

September 21, 2006

September 6, 2006

August 30, 2006

August 15, 2006

August 13, 2006

August 7, 2006

August 3, 2006

August 1, 2006

July 28, 2006

July 25, 2006

Joining a growing list of other hotel chains, in September Marriott Hotels will become 100 percent non-smoking at all of its properties in the U.S. and Canada. The change will apply to all hotels in Marriott's chain, including Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, and TownePlace Suites.

July 17, 2006

July 12, 2006

What traveler hasn't wanted to be a travel writer. You can learn the tricks of the trade at the 15th Annual Travel Writer's and Photographer's Conference August 16-20 in Corte Madera, California. Information is available at www.bookpassage.com/classes/twc.htm.

June 26, 2006

Guidebook publisher Lonely Planet will begin printing guidebooks in Chinese. The first books scheduled to be published will cover Australia, Germany, and Britain. With the U.S. being the third-most-visited world destination, a U.S.A. guidebook in Chinese probably won’t be far behind.

June 24, 2006

June 20, 2006

According to USA Today, which surveyed 100 of the busiest airports in the U.S., the longest security wait times (based on percentage of waits of more than 10 minutes) were at Las Vegas, Nevada; Kona, Hawaii; Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; Oakland, California; and Santa Ana, California.

June 12, 2006

June 6, 2006

1. Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
2. Universal Studios Orlando, Florida
3. Discovery Cove, Orlando, Florida
4. South Beach, Miami, Florida
5. Disneyland, Anaheim, California
6. Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, Nevada
7. Epcot Center, Orlando, Florida
8. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
9. Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
10. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia
    

Numbers 8 & 9 do make us wonder if the word “attraction” was clearly understood by voters. (Internet Travel News)

May 30, 2006

Southwest Airlines seems to be getting closer to possibly instituting assigned seating. The low-cost carrier has always claimed to be able to board planes faster by not assigning seats. Yet the cattle-car boarding is one of the main complaints from many Southwest passengers. So far, Southwest has only upgraded their reservation system to allow for assigned seating, and the airline claims there won’t be any changes until at least 2008.

May 18, 2006

May 18, 2006

May 11, 2006

The Greyhound bus company has launched a “Road Rewards” program, similar to the long-established airline frequent flyer programs. Greyhound passengers receive points for travel, which can be redeemed for discounts and trips. Signing up for the program online at greyhound.com also entitles participants to an immediate 10 percent discount on their next online ticket purchase.

May 8, 2006

Expect a new tourism marketing blitz – and possibly special programs and incentives – from the state of Utah soon. In a survey of other Americans about their perceptions of Utah, less than 20 percent recognized photos of Zion National Park as being in Utah. Zion is a spectacular “desert Yosemite,” yet most survey respondents thought it was in any one of 10 other western states. Other iconic Utah landscapes scored even worse in recognition, despite Utah’s world exposure from the recent 2002 Winter Olympics.

May 7, 2006

U.S. Representative John Mica, chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, predicted one of the worst summers in history for airline baggage problems. Of course, airline, airport, and security officials disagreed. Although there were 3.6 million bags mishandled last year, that still represents less than 1 percent of passengers experiencing baggage problems, according to U.S. Department of Transportation data.

May 5, 2006

The 18th Annual Freddie Awards recently honored Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards as being the top frequent flyer program, and InterContinental Hotels Priority Club as the best hotel loyalty program. Internationally, the TAP Portugal Victoria program took top frequent flyer program honors in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program earned first place in the Asia/Pacific region.

April 24, 2006

The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, has finished its remodel, and has reopened in a new building. In the new facility, the museum will be featuring an expanded collection of Latin American art as well as works by Italian old masters. Additional exhibit space is scheduled to open in 2007.

April 19, 2006

The travel blog cloudtravel tells us that you can get weather forecasts in advance on your cell phone from both Google and Yahoo. For Yahoo, text message the short code 92466 (“Yahoo” spelled on the keypad), then type in “w” (for weather) and the zip code or city and state for which you want the weather forecast. On Google use the short code 46645, (which spells “Googl”).
 

April 10, 2006

Hyatt Hotels have’t gone to completely non-smoking rooms, but the hotel chain is guaranteeing that if you reserved a non-smoking room and one is not available at check-in, Hyatt will offer a $100 Hyatt gift card or 5,000 reward points.

April 6, 2006

Southwest Airlines has announced plans to serve Washington D.C.’s Dulles airport. This could be a boon for travelers coming from Europe to the U.S. who may be able to get inexpensive flights to D.C., and who can then connect cheaply to other parts of the country. Southwest’s service is tentatively planned to start in the fall of 2006.

April 3, 2006

In a March 31 article about the “Top 10 Cities for Foodies,” MSNBC cites three U.S. cities – Las Vegas, New York, and San Francisco. For “big name/big time” restaurants, we’d agree. For smaller restaurants, regional fare, and less pretension, we’d suggest Bar Harbor, Maine (lobster), Santa Fe, New Mexico (green chili), Napa, California (California classic), and several other places. Watch for an upcoming feature article on How To Travel America about our choices.

March 31, 2006

Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado is having a year-long (all through 2006) centennial celebration of its creation as the first U.S. national park honoring human works. The park preserves many dwellings and other archaeological evidence of the Anasazi Indians who inhabited the Four Corners region more than 1,000 years ago.

March 29, 2006

Drivers in several large U.S. cities can now reserve parking spaces in various city parking facilities. At present, some form of reserved parking or parking availability information can be found in San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, and other cities.

March 28, 2006

Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, has been named a National Historic Landmark, joining the ranks of places such as the White House, Mount Vernon (George Washington’s home), and Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson).

March 22, 2006

The state of New Mexico is offering a pass good for admission to all 14 state museums and historic monuments. The New Mexico CulturePass costs $20 and is good for a single admission to eight different museums and six state monuments.

March 14, 2006

Northwest Airlines announced that it will begin to charge extra for choice seats in economy class. Their “Coach Choice” program will add $15 to seats such as exit-row seats and aisle seats in the front of the cabin.

March 20, 2006

Rosewood Hotels in Dallas, New York, and Santa Fe are offering guests use of GPS devices which show maps of the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and shops.