I wake up one Saturday morning and while checking my facebook profile I noticed that Soultravelers3 had left me a great present. This video is fantastic, hopefully one day I would be able to take my family on such a great adventure. Check out the blog when you can.

"This is our little "Mozart" and she is 18 months into a multi year, open ended trip around the world, that started when she was five. She started playing the violin at 23 months old, so we thought it would be fun to mark her unique odyssey by playing her violin around the world at key places. ..."

- Soultravelers3

Hello Everyone!

I want to invite you all to come check out this live travel blog event hosted at www.europealacarte.co.uk The panelists include myself, Karen Bryan - creator of the Europe a la Carte blog, David Stanley- the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific, Gil Zeimer - an accomplished travel writer, advertising wordsmith and globetrotter, Jeanne from Soultravelers3, and Tom Meyers - the founder and the Editor-in-Chief of EuroCheapo.com

The event starts at 3PM EST (US time) and 8PM BST (UK time - it is hosted in the UK) 2AM BKK time (I know a little early in the AM for my S.E.A friends but I thought it's be nice to invite you all anyway). Here is the link:

http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/2008/04/23/youre-invited-to-todays-live-blog-at-8pm-bst-what-readers-want-from-a-travel-blog/

I’ve noticed an interesting trend in the business side of the travel world which reflects the mentality of travelers out there. These trends can also, if looked at correctly, allow insight into where to expect great deals in the future and where to avoid tourists.

Thomas Cook, a major European travel firm, recently announced that they are cutting back on short haul flights from the UK to central Europe due to the pound losing value against the dollar. According to Thomas Cook, European travelers prefer to pay more to get to countries where their money goes farther.

This is an interesting mentality in that it underscores the fact that travelers, at least European ones, regard travel as more of a necessity as opposed to a luxury. People are willing to pay the premium of a long haul flight and potentially hedging their costs by visiting countries where their money can go farthest. This ‘strategy’ doesn’t imply that it would be cheaper to do so as opposed to going to somewhere in central Europe, it simply means that for roughly the same amount of money travelers would pay to spend their vacation in Europe, they are able to experience more somewhere farther away and more exotic. Those travelers who would still prefer to stay in Europe are making their way to eastern European countries like Turkey and Croatia. These countries still offer vacationers value for their money.

The obvious economic factors such as the strength of the Euro, gas prices etc. are impacting the movement of travelers away from countries which traditionally have generated strong tourism revenues. This can have a significant impact on countries such as Spain and Greece. The Balearic islands have been a favorite travel destination for many UK travelers, but this year, due to the afore mentioned economic factors, Spain can expect a smaller British invasion. As for Greece, still reeling from the damages from the forest fires, the impact of tourism being diverted is a reality which is hard to swallow. A significant amount of tourism revenue which could be used to rebuild and reinvest into Greece’s tourism infrastructure could be redirected to the coffers of other countries such as Thailand, Mexico and the Caribbean countries.

Third world destinations such as Thailand, Mexico and the Caribbean would do well to push marketing efforts in European countries at the moment. Perhaps not so much Thailand since they are coming out of a record year, it has always been a popular destination and their economy is doing quite well (which to me is another indicator of things to come – I’ll save that for another posting), but Mexico and the Caribbean, in fact, any country that relies on US tourism revenue, could benefit on the current state of the tourism world. These countries meet most of what European travelers are looking for:

1. Cost effective travel where their money can go a long way

2. Countries which have significant amounts of promotions due to the fact that their reliance on American travelers may impact their revenue stream given the state of the US economy and

3. They are far away and exotic.

When taken on an aggregate, tourism revenue on a global basis continues to increase exponentially. Meaning, there is always money being poured into travel and that on a whole, people are traveling more. It is more the movement of revenue which highlights and impacts a lot of destinations and determines where a majority of travelers end up vacationing. So if we can understand the movement of money we can understand the movement of travelers. Likewise, politics and social environments determine movement as well. Therefore, I believe, it is safe to say that if you want to travel off of the beaten path, understanding these factors could help you find some places where tourists won’t tread, for now at least.

Not only is Sir Richard Branson launching Virgin Galactic’s virgin voyage into space next year, but he is also officiating the first galactic marriage. Yes, indeed, with the introduction of space tourism to the mainstream comes all the other ‘sub-markets’ of the travel industry.

So when are they going to turn the International Space Station into a 5 star hotel? You need to have somewhere to stick the in-law’s after all!!

Growing up in Thailand, Song Kran (the Thai New Year) was something my friends and I would look forward to every year. Imagine an entire country’s populace engaging in a massive water fight. I remember Tuk Tuks and pick up trucks packed with passengers equipped with all sorts of water guns and, the more effective, buckets and the accompanying barrels of water. All the residents of Bangkok seemed to be out on the streets celebrating and having a great time from the early morning until late into the night.

Here in Washington, DC the splashing water can only be heard in stories and memories of those who had the opportunity to witness the madness of the Buddhist celebration. Nevertheless, Song Kran has its place in the district. Every year Wat Thai DC (a Thai Buddhist temple in the suburbs of Washington) celebrates Song Kran by having their own festival on the temple grounds.

The insanity of the water fights does not exist here, instead, the Song Kran festival focuses on prayers, performances, and of course food. The later being the highlight for many local Thais, Thai-Americans and the general public that make their way over. Stalls are set up throughout the temple grounds selling all sorts of food and wares from all over Thailand. This is, for many, is the one opportunity to indulge in delicacies that fans of Thai food in the US would be hard pressed to find anywhere.

Take for example, Kanom Krok. I have been dreaming of returning to my favorite Kanom Krok vendor who can be found in the first line of stalls at the main entrance of the Chatuchak market in Bangkok (near the Skytrain platform) since I left in 2000. To my great surprise I found a Kanom Krok vendor at the Wat Thai on Songkran and needles to say I was more than willing to pay the premium (which was $5 for 10 pieces and about a 30+ minute wait in line) to get my hands on them.

Kanom Krok is a sweet coconut mixture which is cooked in a cast iron, molded pan. They are topped with scallions and sometimes dried shrimp. When cooked they are a little crunchy on the outside and have a jelly-like consistency on the inside. Absolutely fantastiche! You can find Kanom Krok street vendors all over Bangkok and they are priced at around 10-20 Baht for 8-10 pieces (about a quarter to fifty cents).

All the different dishes at the festival were great and sold for around $5. There may not have been a water fight, but with all that delicious food around, who wants one?

*For more information go to www.watthaidc.org

Sometimes you need a vacation from a vacation. One particular trip comes to mind; Las Vegas 2005. I went to go visit a friend of mine in Los Angeles in July 2005 for a little over a week just to get away from the east coast of US for a little bit. During my stay – throughout which I persisted on the California sun, chlorinated water, $3 happy hr. margaritas and copious amounts of Enzo’s 22” Hawaiian pizzas - his neighbor, whom he had befriended, had mentioned that he was going to Las Vegas for the 4th of July weekend.

It was a family tradition. His family was quite wealthy and were the owners of a very famous professional basketball team. He, himself, is one of the most down-to-earth persons that I had ever met. He insisted that I go along for the trip and that it would be great fun. I explained that I really was intent on maintaining my regimented schedule of sun-tequila-lunch-sun-dinner-tequila throughout my stay as I had been in need of serious relaxation. Vegas, my gut instinct insisted, would be way too dangerous given my extremely extroverted nature.

My gut instinct is my biggest asset. It has been correct throughout my existence and has gotten me out of the stickiest of situations on numerous occasions. Unfortunately my brain, my spirit and my gut were not born to listen to each other. Instead they come together on a regular basis to discuss “next steps.” It is during these board meetings that decisions are made regarding the course of my life. Unfortunately, on some occasions not all members of the board are coherent or sober, much like the moment I decided to yell out “We’re going to Vegas!!” on a street corner, in LA, in front of a Mexican bar/restaurant, with my friends in response to: “So, it’s 4th of July and it is 8PM, what do we do now?”


It was somewhere in Nevada that we decided to address some key logistical issues. Where are we going to sleep, change, etc. The decision was made that we were not going to sleep, that we would spend the night having fun and return the next day to LA. Changing in the car and leaving the car in the MGM Grand parking lot would accommodate our need for a changing room. The plan was perfect!

Arriving in Las Vegas sometime after 12AM, we park the vehicle, change and make our way to the casinos. The magical thing about Las Vegas casinos is that you drink for free as you gamble. It only makes sense. So you take a $20 and break it into quarters and take your sweet time at the slot machines. Until, of course, you are inebriated enough to move to the big boy tables. One of my biggest vices is roulette and after an undisclosed amount of Bombay and tonics I said hello to the spinning wheel with all the numbers. Now I know this sounds like a prelude to a painful experience, and it is, but not at the roulette table. I walked away a happy camper, with hundreds more than I expected to walk away with. Yet it was only 2AM and I had another 16hours in Las Vegas with no sleep.

The night continued leaving my friends empty handed and beyond the ability to operate heavy machinery. Eventually the desert sun filled the sky and our bodies demanded food. We found ourselves at an all you can eat, 24hr buffet in an old casino at 7AM. Needless to say we were not in top form. Old people were looking at us with expressions of pity and disgust. Our food tasted like the expressions on their faces – pitiful and disgusting, but we ate it. Even the orange juice wasn’t right, how do you mess up orange juice?

The sudden slamming of plates woke up my two companions from their temporary sleep as the waitress brought down a few plates onto the table with a certain vengeance. “No sleeping at the table!” I explained, in an obvious attempt to maintain some class, that I wasn’t sleeping and I thought her actions rude. She looked at me not slightly amused and pointed at my two friends, both of whom had slipped back into unconsciousness. I force them awake, finish my food and we all left the restaurant.

It was 103F at 10AM. The three of us did not know what to do. So we wandered along Las Vegas Blvd., our hangovers getting worse, exploring both the classy and not so classy areas by day. The heat pounds down onto your shoulders like a hammer on an anvil, it is relentless. The sun’s rays washed everything out, Vegas really only looks good at night. It felt like one big hazy dream. Like being lost in a desert. Naturally, regret begins to show itself. The thought of just laying out on the pool pushes me to a certain level of annoyance. “I should’ve listened to my gut!” I tell myself. “Could be at a pool right now!” Then a realization dawns upon me “...well, why not be poolside?”

Within twenty minutes we find ourselves lounging on pool chairs in Caesar’s Palace. The cold rough cut marble was soothing to the touch. The sounds of water splashing from fountains with cherubs put us to sleep within minutes. It was perfect, We found paradise, for about forty minutes. That is how long it takes Caesar’s Palace security to notice three fully clothed men passed out by the swimming pool.

As we were escorted out our friend who was in Vegas to visit family calls and is in shock, he can’t believe that we actually made it out to Vegas and invited us over to his family’s house. Thank god there was no one there except for him. I said hi, sat down and passed out thirty-five minutes into our conversation. How rude of me, I know.

Later in the afternoon, we made our way back out to the casinos, somewhat refreshed. One last dance before we hit the road again. It was uneventful save for my last win on a slot machine. The journey home could have been better. The trip had exacted a heavy toll. 48hrs awake, 1.5hrs of sleep, dehydration and a slight case of insomnia. My eyes were dry and my entire body hurt.

The entire experience was fun, all in all, but I would never do it again. Next time, I’ll have a hotel, a nice cool room and lots more time. I owe it to myself, and I owe Caesar’s Palace that much.

It is always interesting to hear a pro’s experience in the travel world. As I mentioned in the previous posting Andrew Zimmern was at this Adventure Expo in DC. I had the opportunity to meet him and talk for a little. First off, he is a really nice guy – doesn’t come off as pretentious or anything. It turns out that his travel background is pretty similar to mine in that we both had fathers that insisted on the importance of experiencing what the specific place is all about.

In Zimmern’s experience, his family would travel everywhere and along the way they would stop by a specific restaurant that his father had researched to sample their specialty cuisine. He explained how, as a child going to all these different restaurants, there would be the natural tendency to go for the hot dog or pizza or something familiar. His father on the other hand would insist on trying whatever the house specialty was. As a young child, Zimmern learned how myopic the United States was when it came to food. During his presentation, he explained how the US is the only country in the world where fresh milk (straight from the animal) was illegal and where chicken breast comes wrapped in plastic. His childhood experiences inevitably led Zimmern to where he is now, hosting Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel. The success of which, he points out, has to do with the myopic US environment. “The United States is now just getting into organic and around the corner food. The rest of the world has been doing that for centuries…” Zimmern says.

My father was very similar in that not only would he insist we try the local specialties but he would do his best to avoid the luxurious tourism spots – mostly to the dismay of my mother. He didn’t feel that those types of experiences, although they have their place, didn’t represent the people and their culture which we were visiting. My father’s style of traveling introduced to me what the definition of what a traveler is. The details were filled in by other travelers and experience on the road itself provided its true meaning to me.

Here is a bad picture of Zimmern and myself. I was unhappy with the fact that my eyes were closed so I decided to take a picture with the pretty carnival lady from Aruba to make up for it- and to promote tourism to the Caribbean of course! I apologize for the poor picture quality, I had to use my cellphone.

I made it to the Adventures in Travel Expo here in Washington, DC last weekend and was quite impressed at the turn out. There were a significant number of reps from tourism boards, agencies, operators and gear outfitters. The amount of effort being poured into the marketing systems for these organizations has taken a significant jump. You can tell just by looking around that everyone in the travel industry is bracing for impact but at the same time they are being proactive about the state of the world economy and actually are reaching out to people.

Representatives from the Caribbean nations were out in full force as were the reps from Central America. I was surprised to see that there weren’t as many South American operators/officials but in hindsight, South American nations don't rely heavily on the US for tourism revenue. There was a significant showing of representatives from the African nations, which would make complete sense since restoring tourist confidence in the African tourism structure should be a major focus in the region. The political upheavals in Kenya did a very good job of taking that confidence away, resulting in significant economic losses for Kenya its surrounding neighbors such as Tanzania.

Some of the keynote speakers included Andrew Zimmern - host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods show and Tony Wheeler – Founder of Lonely Planet Publications. They provided some great insights into the world of Travel media and the travel landscape as we know it.

Despite their insight I found that the true indicators of where the travel world was headed could be found in the crowd itself. First off, there was a good amount of people, which means that there was a lot of ‘shopping’ going around. Members of the crowd were carrying multiple plastic bags filled with publications and other marketing ‘goodies.’ To me this says a couple of things:

1. People could actually be looking to get away for a little bit
2. People need good bathroom reading material with beautiful pictures of exotic places
3. People are always going to be interested in the possibility of and Adventure of a Lifetime experience. Who isn’t?
4. Everyone is always looking for a good travel deal
5. It is not that hard to reach out to people because the interest in travel will never go away.

In this slowing economy it is obvious that people will always make an allowance for a getaway no matter how quick. If they can’t afford to, they will save to go at a later time. It is right now, though, that most people do their travel research and begin to formulate their plans. Likewise, this is the perfect time for all travel firms and tourism boards to show the best that they can offer in order to attract the attention of the millions of travelers ready to hit the road .

Graduating in May and don’t know what to do with your life? Go to Australia!! A new work and holiday visa arrangement between the US and the Aussies will allow 18 – 30 year old American students and newly grads to work in Australia for 12 months. Yes, indeed, why work boring jobs waiting tables or jumping straight into the cubicle garden when you can take 12 months to live and work in one of the top destinations in the world. This arrangement is the first which the US has entered into.

Taking a year off to travel the world (a Gap year) is practically expected of students in Europe. It is now becoming more of a reality in the US and universities are recognizing that. Princeton University, for example, recently announced its Bridge Year program allowing students to defer enrollment for a year to travel the world.

According to Geoff Buckley, Australia’s Managing Director of Tourism “…unlike many of their European counter-parts their opportunities to travel Down Under for extended periods have been limited by their inability to supplement their travel with a bit of work.

"This is really a tremendous opportunity for Australia to build some life-long relationships with a new market segment in the US.”

Travel agencies and tour operators have already begun making moves. STA Travel is now offering packages with ‘start up kits’ which pairs students and newly grads to accredited courses in how to become a scuba diving or surfing instructor (for example).

All US citizens looking to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity must be 18 to 30years of age and can apply for the visa over the internet or by completing an application form and submitting it to the Australian Embassy or a nearby consulate.

With gas prices increasing seemingly everyday, it appears that busing to NYC is a better option for anyone within 5hrs of the city. I estimate that if you drive to NY and back from DC it would cost you anywhere from $120 to $200 depending on your car PLUS parking (if you are staying in Manhattan). I spent $70 for two people last weekend, this is how…

Friday, I make my way to New York City and decided to take the Vamoose bus down. They pick you up in Bethesda, MD or Arlington, VA both right outside DC. There is a reservation system online but you have to pay on the bus. You don’t need a reservation but it does hold spots for you. They charge $25 one way and they give you ticket stubs, four stubs gets you one free, one way ride. I so happened to have four stubs which I collected almost a year ago and they still honored the discount. The Vamoose was fast; we left at 5:20PM and arrived at Penn Station at 9:10PM. This was on a Friday night at the beginning of Easter weekend. I was impressed, although I do have to admit that we did not visit a rest stop this time around (they usually do). Credit given where it is due - it was the driver’s foresight that got us to NYC in no time. (www.vamoosebus.com)

On the way back we decided to take another company, the DC2NY bus. I paid for this service online in advance. They offer a $25 one way ticket at the bus, $22 one way ticket with online reservation and $40 roundtrip ticket with online reservation. Pretty damn cheap, although you do not get a free ride after 4 one way rides. The bus leaves from Penn Station in NY and arrives in either Dupont Circle or 14^t St. in DC. Their perks: free bottled water and WiFi internet access in most of their busses. I was impressed. The ride down was not as fast as the vamoose bus due to traffic and stopping at a rest stop, but the other amenities made up for that. (dc2ny.com)

Both services are great, here is my comparison breakdown:

Price: Vamoose is (very slightly) the better option for continuous DC-NY travelers. Five rides with vamoose is $100 and five rides with DC2NY (assuming you buy online and 2 RT tix) is $102.

Access: DC2NY allows for payment online which makes things a lot easier. In terms of locations DC2NY is in downtown DC so it is better for the DC resident as the pick up and drop off points are Metro accessible.

Amenities: DC2NY is the clear winner here with the free water and WiFi.

Customer Service: Both had very nice drivers.

For me, the DC2NY is the winner given the fact that the drop off points are in DC and the WiFi access is just too cool.

It has been announced that Alan Greenspan has been invited to speak before Caribbean tourism officials to address the impact that the US economy is already starting to have on tourism in the Caribbean islands. As mentioned in my previous posting entitled Economics of Travel, the Caribbean islands rely heavily on tourism as their primary driver of their economies. The majority of travelers are made up of American tourists. Given the current state of the US economy, fewer American households will budget for travel, bad news for the Caribbean.

The islands turn to Alan Greenspan for some insight into a new direction or potential solution out of the coming downturn. He seems an odd choice given the fact that he generally takes a macro-economic approach and a downturn in the tourism sector seems to be more of a specific issue better addressed by consultants. Unless the Caribbean nations are looking to make significant economic policy changes on a national level, then Greenspan is not their man.

It seems almost obvious at this point that the Caribbean tourism officials need to shake their dependence on US travelers and focus more on attracting tourists from other regions of the world who aren’t feeling a financial pinch, specifically Europe and Asia. Pushing aggressive promotional campaigns in these regions as early as last summer when the US economy was well into its downward cycle (triggered by the real estate sector) would have proven to be a smart move instead of spending $100K - $150K an hour (Greenspan’s going rate) to hear Mr. Greenspan speak.

Apparently there has been an increase in slum tourism these days. You know, the type of tourism where you go to a ghetto and…actually I am not quite sure what you do there. Perhaps you feel sorry for the inhabitants and feel that your presence benefits them in some way.

Someone I know went to Rio with his then girlfriend and her sister. I knew him through my girlfriend and she was friends with his girlfriend, a bit confusing I know. What I found even more confusing was that when he came back from Brazil he brought back this thing made out of bottle caps. I don’t quite remember what it is except that it was supposed to be artistic and it said ‘Ordem e Progresso’ the motto found on the Brazilian flag meaning Order and Progress. Go figure. Anyway, he explained that he had gone on a tour of the favelas (slums) in the hills surrounding Rio and that this thing was made out of bottle caps by the people who inhabited the slums.

“Cool” – my girlfriend agreed. I can’t speak for her but I actually thought the bottle cap thing was quite ugly and imagining the sight of this person walking through a ghetto in a third world country perplexed me further. He was from New York, and I asked myself ‘Perhaps I can ask him to take me on a tour of the projects in the New York City area.’ I mean, if he finds slums so interesting why not start in one of the most culturally rich cities in the world right?

Taking it another step, and giving slum tourism the benefit of the doubt, I decided to analyze the financial impact that slum tourism would have on a place like the favelas. Here are some basic facts first.

1. The favelas are run by drug dealers
2. People who live in the favelas trust the dealers more than they trust the corrupt cops
3. Straight and crooked cops don’t like going to the favelas

So the money that paid for the bottle cap art thing probably benefits the drug dealers somehow. You can argue that it keeps those who sell the bottle cap works off of the ‘streets’ but guess what? The favelas are the streets.

Can you really believe that the tour operator isn’t paying off a drug dealer? Think about this one. Straight cops do not want to go to these places. The peace is kept by the drug dealers. So who is going to keep the tourists safe, or is that a part of the adventure? ‘Look Ma, I took a bullet from an AR-15! It’s the Brazilian drug dealer’s weapon of choice!!”

“Yeah, I went to the favelas!”

His eyes lit up as he notices that his experience has elicited the desired effect on my girlfriend’s eager look.

At that moment I fully understood what the payoff was for a slum tourist. Similar to many other tourists infected with a Marco Polo complex, a slum tourist is there to see and tell. I’d actually like to meet a traveler, someone who immerses themselves in the culture that is hosting them, who truly visited (stayed in) the favelas. A slum traveler if you will.

What difference does any of that make to the inhabitants of these slums? Not much. The last time I checked, travelers to third world countries have generally been exposed to extreme poverty, take Manila for example, where slums and mansions come together barely separated. Bringing tourists closer to that poverty doesn’t make things better. Awareness - can we argue that awareness will make things better? Tough call, it would take an interesting person to choose to clean up a slum in another country as opposed to their own. The socio-economic nuances of a foreign land is not easily understood.

I’m going to New York City this weekend and perhaps I’ll come home with my piece of bottle cap art that says ‘I [HEART] NY.’ Oh wait! I live in DC, don’t we have better ghettos? We sure do, but the idea of an out of town ghetto seems so much more…exotic.

Local Washington, DC shops have begun to accept Euros. I’m not talking boutique shops either, what I am referring to are mom and pop institutions capitalizing on the higher inflow of Europeans and their Euros.

Amsterdam Café is a cozy little spot smack dab in middle of DC’s Adam’s Morgan, an area well known for its bars, restaurants, and culture. The cafe’s menu is quite simple; falafels, fries and soda. I find myself there on occasion loading up on some quick Mediterranean eats before a night out or perhaps after and I am never disappointed. They now take Euros.

This has become a common trend here in the District and I hear that it is taking hold in New York City as well. Europeans find it cheaper to visit the US now as the dollar devalues against the Euro, and local businesses might find accepting the continental currency to their advantage. Especially those in tourist hotspots.

Over the past few months I have noticed a lot of trends pointing to the US dollar taking the backseat in the international travel arena. The Taj Mahal, along with other national monuments in India, no longer accepts the dollar at admissions windows. This is becoming more common across the globe in many ticketing counters. Does this mean that the dollar will no longer be the global standard of currency? It is probably too soon to assume that, but the issue is being highlighted.

P.S. $1 = €1.55 (as of 9:38AM 3.17.08) it was $1 = €.88 when the Euro was introduced in 2002.

Although not ‘officially recognized’ the US is definitely in a recession. What does that mean for travelers to the US looking for the American highway experience, the road warriors, the road trip junkies? Well, with gas prices at $4 a gallon and a lot of everyday consumer goods increasing in price it means that life on the road is getting pretty expensive pretty quick. Don't stop traveling though, there is some help to relive the pain.

Bedandbreakfast.com’s “Tanks a Lot!” program rewards those US road trippers with free gas when you stay with one of the B&Bs enrolled on the program. There are around 150 B&Bs in the US who are participating in this promotion and about 40 in the Caribbean. See below for a short list of B&Bs or go to Bedandbreakfast.com.

Jeremiah Inn, Tucson, AZ: Bring the kids to this family-friendly inn with a swimming pool and spa. As a bonus, your nightly room rate will be discounted by five cents for every mile between Tucson and your home city, up to a maximum of $30 or 600 miles; valid through August 1.

The Colonial Terrace, Carmel, CA: Eco-friendly vehicles wanted at this charming inn, just one block from Carmel Beach! Through the end of June, arrive in a hybrid vehicle, Sunday through Thursday, and receive $25 off the total bill to put toward gas.

The Ruby of Crested Butte, Crested Butte, CO: Red is the new green here. Two AARP member couples carpooling and staying two nights, Sunday through Thursday between April 1 and June 30, will receive two ruby red hot deals to reward their green efforts, including two $25 gas cards plus an extra five-percent discount if the couples arrive in a hybrid vehicle or fuel-efficient equivalent.

Island Goode’s, Hilo, HI: Look forward to fresh produce grown on this eight-acre estate, plus solar-heated water at this eco-friendly inn. Book two nights and get a $25 credit toward auto or travel expenses; stay four nights and get a $50 credit. Call for a free airport pickup, and ride green in the inn’s 2006 Toyota Prius (47 mpg).

Pilgrim’s Inn and Cottages, Deer Isle, ME: As an Environmental Leader in Maine’s hospitality industry, this inn is working hard to reduce its impact on the environment and wants to reward guests who are doing their part by driving hybrid vehicles. Now through October 18, guests arriving in a hybrid vehicle will receive a deduction in their lodging bill up to $40 for a tank of gas.

White Swan Inn, Whitehall, MI: Now through June, stay two nights, bring a grocery bag of non-perishable food items or personal care products for the local food pantry, and receive a $40 discount on the bill to help with gas. Mention "Fuel and Food" when making your reservation.

Classic Rosewood – A Thorwood Property, Hastings, MN: Happy days are here again as you’re treated to a drive-in movie and 65 cent malted milkshakes. From May 1 to November 1, book any two nights in a luxury or ultimate whirlpool-fireplace suite and ask for the FREE Happy Days Package, a $50 value, including vouchers for $2 off per gallon for up to 15 gallons to bring gas costs down to good ol’ days pricing, along with two tickets to the local drive-in.

Inn at Ellis River, Jackson, NH: Burn wood, not gas. Stay two or more nights in a fireplace room anytime between April and July, and receive a refund up to $50, figured by the distance traveled at 25 mpg fuel usage. Stay a third night, and a complimentary three-course dinner for two will fuel you up.

The Oaks B&B, Saluda, NC: To ease nagging gas pains, book a stay between now and June 15, and receive a $25 gift card upon your arrival redeemable for fuel, bottled water, snacks or Gas-X.

Wilder Farm Inn, Waitsfield, VT: Vermont is French for green mountain, and you can keep it that way by carpooling or driving a hybrid to Wilder Farm. Stay two nights at the regular price now through July and each additional night is $100; save an additional $10 if you drive a hybrid or carpool with friends who are also staying here, then put your savings right into the fuel tank.

Floating Feather Inn, Ocean Shores, WA: Now through June 15, receive $25 for every two-consecutive-night stay. Bring a bike, kayak or kite board for some eco-adventure or car pool as a group of four or more and receive $50 to offset gas costs. Book three or more rooms plus carpool and receive $75 for travel costs.

Gillum House, Shinneston, WV: Stay two consecutive nights at the regular rate through the end of August and pay no more than $2.25 per gallon for gas at the local Go-Mart for up to 15 gallons of gas. The inn will pick up the rest. Plus, bring five cans of food for the local food pantry, and receive $15 in Jimmy's Diner dollars.

Red Forest B&B, Two Rivers, WI: From May 25-October 14, take advantage of the Carless B&B Getaway, including two roundtrip Lake Michigan “bike and passenger” ferry tickets, two nights’ lodging including a full breakfast each morning, and two certificates for a hot fudge sundae to fuel up during your stay, all for $399 per couple including all taxes.

Ocean Wilderness Inn, Sooke, BC, Canada: Stay for two nights, Sunday to Thursday through June, and receive a $25 reduction off lodging costs to put into your tank. You get to relax, rather than drive out one day and back the next. Stay a third night, and a $25 contribution will be made to the David Suzuki Foundation, to support its work in solving global warming.

La Terreza Guest House, Grecia, Costa Rica: Stay in the La Vista or La Belle rooms for three or more nights from now through July 1, and receive a $30 credit on your room for use toward gas in your rental car. Better yet, go car-less and take advantage of free roundtrip transportation from the airport, then enjoy your credit to fuel up at a local restaurant.

The 2008 summer Olympics mean a lot to Beijing, so much so that they have decided to shutdown expeditions on the north side of Mt. Chomolungma, better known as Mt. Everest. According to the adventure web portal www.mounteverest.net no group visas will be issued until May 10^th.

The reason for shutting down expeditions is due to China’s need to control the route of the Olympic torch, which will be relayed from Lhasa to Mt. Everest. The Olympics have always had a political undertow. According to John Ackerly, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, "This is an ominous indication of the controls that China is likely to impose as the flame travels from the top of Everest through Tibet. Beijing is using the Olympics torch ceremony, which should stand for human freedoms and dignity, to bolster its territorial claim over Tibet."

Mounteverest.net brings to light the impact this decision has on adventurers who have been looking forward to summiting Everest. "Considering the need for acclimatization and infrastructure, climbing Everest north side this spring will be short of impossible. This is a serious blow to Everest climbers and related personnel, many of whom got the notice only one week before their Everest approach is due to begin."

It is expensive to climb Everest and most of the costs for expeditions are paid well in advance. Those who are still determined to climb Everest and have the economic resources to do so have chosen to re-route their expeditions on the south side of the mountain. According to Mounteverest.com this is “putting a dangerous strain on this side of the peak, with close to 70 permits reportedly issued there already this season,"

Just because you enjoy the crazier side of travel, like going to war torn places, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice luxury for adventure. Imagine gently waking up to howitzers and mortar shells falling from the heavens as you lay on 900+ count Egyptian cotton sheets. Enjoy mimosas and the finest in local cuisine while an orchestra of truck and pipe bombs crescendo in unison. Welcome to the Royal Afghan in Kandahar.

The $15 million dollar luxury hotel positions itself snugly in the middle of war torn southern Afghanistan. The city has an international feel, 21,000 foreigners from Canada, the US, and the UK to name a few…soldiers that is. Yes, armed men and women in service who are driven around in armored vehicles. The streets are too dangerous to walk around the city and take in the sights. Although, that is perfect if that is what you are looking for!

Muhammad Abid, found investors who believed that visitors will come and provided him with the capital to create this diamond in the roughest of the rough. "Our guests will be internationals, people from nongovernmental organizations or other institutions working here," says Mr. Abid.

The hotel will cater to western culture, allowing women to sunbathe in bikinis for example, but will respect Islamic ideals. How exactly? "There will be no Afghans there. No Afghans will be allowed to swim." Explains Mr. Abid. Problem solved, what about security?

"We arrange everything, so our guests won't have to worry about their safety," he says. "They will be able to sit for hours and hours and just relax." An example of this initiative is by moving the swimming pool area from the front of the hotel to the back. "If an IED [improvised explosive device] was to go off on the road, our guests would be disturbed. So we had to change that," explains Mr. Abid.

Ah yes, luxury and chaos. Fantastic.

Quantas introduced it new Premium Economy seats on all of their aircrafts. In an effort to cover costs are airlines just limiting cheap seats and marketing new and expensive ones? Below is the press release.

Qantas Executive General Manager, Mr John Borghetti, said the introduction of Premium Economy offers customers a new choice in long haul international travel.

“Qantas Premium Economy offers extra space and comfort and enhanced levels of service,” Mr. Borghetti said.

“We have invested significantly in developing this cabin, which is being progressively installed across our B747-400 fleet and will be available on every Qantas A380.” The first aircraft with Premium Economy, B747-400 registration VH-OJK, enters service tomorrow and will operate QF127 from Sydney to Hong Kong.

The cabin features 32 seats in a two-four-two configuration. It is initially available on select services between Sydney and London and Sydney and Johannesburg. Additional routes will be added as the product is progressively installed.

Seats in the new cabin have been on sale since November 2007, for travel on select B747 services from 1 April 2008. Return fares from Sydney start from:

Hong Kong $1996 *
Johannesburg $4246
Singapore $2220
London $4611
Bangkok $2580 * (from 16 May ex Melbourne and 3 August ex Sydney)

“Our forward bookings indicate very promising levels of demand and our research suggests the
product is very popular among Economy travellers who are attracted by the extra benefits and
features that Premium Economy offers,” Mr Borghetti said.

Mr Borghetti said Qantas Premium Economy offers:

The world’s best Premium Economy recline and leg room – nine inch seat
recline and up to 42 inch seat pitch;

Extra wide, 19.5 inch seat designed by Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson and manufactured by Recaro;

Ergonomic cushioning and an adjustable headrest;

Only airline with in-arm touch screen video monitor;

Multiport jack with USB (A380 only) and RJ45 ports;

Neil Perry inspired menu with premium wines; and

A self-service bar offering a selection of refreshments throughout the flight.

“The new service also includes priority check-in, dedicated cabin crew, an additional hand baggage allowance, and priority boarding and disembarkation,” Mr Borghetti said.

“The installation of the cabin is being undertaken by Qantas Engineering at its Avalon maintenance facility in Victoria.” The next three aircraft offering Premium Economy are scheduled to commence operation later this month.

Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q3731) Media Enquiries: Lloyd Quartermaine T: 029691 4058

Sleeping with the fish can be a scary thought, especially after watching one two many mobster flicks, but apparently this is becoming a trend. In Fiji, Poseidon Underwater Hotels is almost ready to open allowing anyone, with enough cash to spend on some quality time under the sea.

Istanbul has announced that they too will provide aquatic accommodations as well. Plans to open the doors (hatches?) to the underwater hotel, built on the ruins of a 1930’s tobacco factory, is set for 2010. The hotel will come complete with restaurants, exhibition halls boasting an amazing sea view.

I just hope that they don’t have Jaws available on Pay Per View.