TAP Air Portugal spreads holiday cheer!

With all the bad news lately associated with air travel, it's nice to know that at least one airline, TAP Air Portugal still has room to spread some holiday cheer. Imagine the surprise to passengers checking in at Lisbon airport! AMAZING!

airline fees

Airlines in the struggle to make money seem to be charging customers for everything. Luggage, food, earphones even Wi-Fi, it really is hard to keep track and keep on budget.
Here are a few handy charts which outlines what some airlines are charging.
Remember with increased security measures, this can be valuable information!
www.kayak.com/h/airlinefees
www.farecompare.com/resources/airline_fee_table/index.htm
www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/airline-fees-the-ultimate-guide.html?id=2623262

Tired of Turkey?

Had our fill of turkey? How about an alternative?
Here are some "unique" foods from around the world keep the adventure in your travel.


1.Alligator cheesecake (New Orleans, Louisiana)
www.jacquesimoscafe.com


2.Chicken Penis (China)
www.beijing-china-guide.com/penis-restaurant-beijing.html


3. Casu Marzu (Sardina) is a traditional Sardinian sheep mile cheese, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae.



4. Kopi Luwak or civet coffee (Indonesia) is made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet bird


5. Surströmming (Sweden) is a northern Swedish dish consisting of fermented Baltic herring

Avoid confusion

www.fastenseatbelts.eu
A fantastic site committed to educating travelers on social differences they many encounter in many European countries.

Airport Guide

From Boston to Birmingham people seem to stuck in airports. Blame it on the weather, overbooking or the holidays. The cold hard fact is that many of us are spending much more time waiting for the plane than actually being on it.
Here are a few ideas of what to do with all that free time:
•Try and find a quiet space. Many airlines will grant you access to their lounges for a fee starting around $40. Check with your carrier.
•Another option is to purchase one from Priority Pass. (www.prioritypass.com) which have over 600 lounges worldwide.
•Another such company is loungepass (www.loungepass.com). Many of these lounges offer free snacks, drinks and free Wi-Fi.
•For something even more budget friendly why not check out the airport chapel. Chances are you will find a peaceful environment with an even more reflective feel.
•Many airports have adjoining hotels which offer day passes to their gym and pool facilities, these are always worth investigating, not to mention their possibly less crowed bar.
•Airport Spas have been popping up all over the place, and what a welcome they are.
Check out www.traveltowellness.com/airportspas
for a great list.
•Another great resource to have on hand is an airport guide. This will give you a great overview of what exactly is offered in your airport. www.worldtravelguide.net/airport
can tell you exactly where that Starbucks is located!

Ethical Travel

Ahhh the allure of packing your bags, hopping on a plane and exploring a far-off exotic land.
But wait! Between the carbon footprint of the flight, the questionable humans rights policies of your destination and the unlawful environmental practices...where is one to go?
Fear not, below is a list of the top ten destinations of 2010 (alphabetical order) where one can escape without the guilt tagging along.

1. Argentina 2. Belize 3. Chile 4. Ghana 5. Lithuania 6. Namibia 7. Poland

8. Seychelles 9. South Africa 10. Suriname

The list was compiled by the Ethical Traveler (www.ethicaltraveler.org), which lists the 10 countries in the developing world that are best protecting their natural environments, promoting responsible travel, and building a tourism industry which provides real benefits to local communities.

Stuck in transit

Good news, well sort of.
We have all experienced or heard stories of those who have been stuck on a plane waiting to take-off. 20 minutes turns into 2 hours...2 hours turns into 4...and so on!
If you are traveling in the United States, the govenrment has stepped in and now the most you can expect to spend sitting on the tarmac is 3 hours.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/business/22passengers.html

Travel log- Dubai

We Have Band’s video for “Honeytrap” is out — directed by Price James, it’s a bit of a travel log of their recent trip to Dubai.

BATHROOM BREAK

www.thebathroomdiaries.com

How many times have you been exploring a foreign city and realised that perhaps that second cup of coffee was not in fact the best idea. 

This handy website has you covered. It highlights the best johns in over 120 cities around the world!

A REAL MOUTHFUL

Having been on the road a fair bit lately here are a few noted places where you can grab some decent nosh!


KEY WEST, FLORIDA:


Blue Heaven (www.blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Blue_Heaven_Restaurant_Key_West.html)
Who doesn't like to dine alfresco with wild chickens and roosters running around under your table? This charm doesn't stop at the kitchen either. Fresh baked corn bread, yummy seafood salads and the best darn Key Lime pie on the island will have you coming back for more. Breakfasts are popular too!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA:

One Flew South (www.oneflewsouthatl.com)
A layover at the worlds busiest airport no longer needs to mean eating from fast food kiosks.
Find refuge, calm and outstanding food at One Flew South. Executive Chef, Duane Nutter has created a menu of global tastes that focuses on fresh ingredients. In a rush, their brilliant sandwiches and bar area will allow you time to re-charge and still catch that connecting flight.

ST.JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND

Get Stuffed 190 Duckworth St. 757-2480
This warm and cozy establishment is true to it's name.
The menu is impressive with a focus on comfort food. Think meatloaf and mac and cheese. Be warned you can biggie size your portion to a serving and a half, however it might be best to split an entree and share a few sides.

MAUI, HAWAII

Mala, Wailea (www.malawailea.com)
Chef Mark Ellman has recently opened this second restaurant in the Marriot with stunning outdoor sunset views. A focus on local, organic food with a Hawaiian twist ensures anything on the menu will be mouth watering. The most amazing offer on the menu is the chef's four course tasting menu with wine pairings for $70....a real steal!