I recently returned from a trip to Vietnam, where I had a bespoke wardrobe made for less than $100. And here's a confession: it wasn't my first time.

Since then, I've received a surprising number of emails from people also considering a trip to Asia---must be because it's one of the few places still relatively cheap in the face of the weak dollar---and wondering how to go about getting their own custom clothes made. In case you're one of them, here are a few pieces of advice:

1. By far the best---and cheapest---place to have that three-piece suit whipped up is Hoi An, Vietnam. You can fly into Danang International Airport and pick up a taxi (for around $13) for the half-hour journey to the Seamstress Capital Of The World. Another alternative---and one a little easier to reach? Bangkok. Head for Rambuttri Road in the city center and you'll have to fight the tailors off with a stick.

2. Shop around for a good deal before you commit to anything--most tailors have the same patterns and quality is fairly standard, especially in places like Hoi An. Bargain as far as you feel comfortable with, but remember to always keep it good-natured, and be prepared to agree on a reasonable middle ground.

3. Bring clothes with you that you already like and ask to have them copied. Failing that, bring pictures of pieces you want made. Most tailors have catalogs and magazines in their stores, which you can use as a last-ditch resource; remember, too, that bringing current fashion magazines you're willing to leave behind can often knock a few bucks off the price.

4. Once you find a place you like, try and go with a bulk-shopping mentality; get most of your stuff made in one place, and you'll both build a rapport with the store-owner, and probably be able to get a small discount on your stash as well.

5. Most tailors work incredibly fast; you'll be measured immediately and then told to come back the next day. The most important thing to bear in mind is that this isn't your final garment---it's merely a first fitting. The tailor will expect you to have some issue with the piece, and will be prepared to make it longer, shorter, tighter or more fitted according to your direction. Be patient, trust that the tailor will make your adjustments properly, and know that nine and three quarter times out of ten, you'll come back the next day to find a perfect piece.

6. Once you've agreed upon a price, never pay more than the deposit (roughly a third to half of the final cost); paying the entire amount up front is risky. In Vietnam, you'll have the choice of paying in U.S. dollars or Vietnamese dong; many shops accept credit cards as well (though be warned that this can be awfully dangerous for your willpower!)

7. Take a few cards of a tailor you've had a positive experience with and pass them on to friends; competition is stiff, and they'll appreciate you stumping for them. Keep one in your own Rolodex too--most tailors will keep all your measurements on file for at least a few years, so the next time you need a custom-made business suit, you'll know exactly who to email. (My personal recommendation? Minh Loan Tailor Shop, 47 Hoang Dieu Street in Hoi An, Vietnam. You can contact them at minhloanshop@hotmail.com. Tell them the British girl with five new button-down shirts sent you.)

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Posted in Asia, Shopping
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Tree hugger or not, we’re all aware by now of the undeniable global warming crisis. While there are many causes for the climate change, many are quick to point fingers at the airline industry (even though, according to an NPR report I heard earlier this week, travel accounts for less than 4 percent of the world’s carbon emissions.)

With so much focus on climate change in today’s world, a recent Consumer Reports analysis grabbed my attention: what is the “greenest” way to travel? To determine this, they went to Web sites that help consumers calculate carbon output, and the results varied dramatically.

Bill McGee of USA Today conducted much of the research for this study, which he outlined in his On the Road column. The bottom line, he writes, is that “if you're using carbon calculators to determine what your offsetting tab should be, you'd better cross-check your math.”

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Posted in Air Travel, Green Travel, Polls & Studies
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Richard Branson, Virgin entrepreneur extraordinaire, wants to bring space travel to the masses. Well, sort of. He wants to bring space travel to the moneyed masses. For $200,000 and at least a $20,000 deposit, you too could sign up for glory hereby only experienced by the world’s astronauts.

Oh, but what glory it is! Imagine being rocketed up into the upper-most regions of the sky until you get a true alien’s-eye view of the Earth. From space, you’d be able to see cloud masses and continents, bodies of water and polar ice. The g-forces would be extreme, but once you’d hit weightlessness, you’d be able to float around for a full five minutes, taking everything in, before returning to your home planet.

Want to go? You better get in line. According to the Associated Press, 200 would-be space tourists have already made their reservations, including Branson’s aging parents. You’ll also have to clear a medical screening, and participate in an intensive three-day training session. All this, and the launch date hasn’t even been determined yet. That’s because the vehicle, SpaceShipTwo, is still in development, and the only definitive answer on Virgin Galactic’s website as to when it will be making commercial flights is that it will launch “as soon as possible… but only when we are happy with the results…” If that's what it takes for safety, then I'm happy to wait.

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Posted in Adventure Travel, Offbeat, Travel News
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Food. It’s all the rage lately. And as a lifelong devotee of its joys (and even its disappointments), I’ve been enthralled by the resurgence of conscious cooking and eating over the past few years: the (slow) death of squeamishness, the booming of farmers’ markets across the US (who would have expected it in the nation that spawned the Big Mac?), and the resurgence of local, farm-to-table eating across the country. Call it what you like—becoming a “locavore,” joining the “slow food” movement, practicing responsible eating—but it all rests on the simple concept of eating what’s in season and grown or raised nearby using natural, sustainable methods. It’s a concept that I wholeheartedly buy into—especially when I travel.

While I do my best to shop the farmers’ markets, buy organic and certified-humane meats, and avoid fast food at home, it’s a privilege I can’t fully sustain when money is tight and time is short. When traveling, the world of local foods and sustainable eating is often surprisingly economical and accessible—and always worthwhile. I’m a farmers’ market junkie (my favorite way to enjoy lunch in a warm destination is by shopping the local vendors and finding a sunny spot to picnic), and I almost always stay in rental houses for the same reason—with a kitchen and all the right tools at your disposal, it’s easy (and usually cheap) to experience local food. A few favorites have been fresh cheese and fruit from Montreal’s Atwater Market, handmade tamales from the Austin Farmers’ Market, and fresh sauerkraut and brilliant produce from the Split market in Croatia.

And then there are those memorable food experiences I’ve stumbled upon, like dinner at Villa Conte in Ivan Dolac, Hvar, Croatia. My friends and I had rented a house in the tiny fishing village on the south coast of Hvar, and as she welcomed us to our home for the week, the owner of our house mentioned that their neighbors would make us a traditional Croatian dinner with a bit of advance notice. I’m lucky to have friends who relish a memorable meal as much as I do; we jumped at the opportunity and contacted them the next day. The neighbors, who rent out apartments in their own home, are a Croatian family who tend to an overflowing garden of vegetables and herbs behind their house—and make their own wine and rakija from grapes harvested in nearby family vineyards. Lena, the matriarch of the Caric family, spoke with us briefly about what kinds of food we liked (everything), whether we’d want wine with dinner (absolutely), and what time we wanted to come. The next evening, we were in for one of the most fantastic meals of my traveling life.

All homemade from local ingredients (most of which were harvested from a garden about 20 yards from our table that morning), the dishes served were fresh, flavorful, and distinctly Croatian. We began with a velvety crimson soup that tasted as if a garden-ripe tomato had burst in our mouths; next came perfectly salted roasted zucchini and peppers; a crisp, bright tomato and cucumber salad; and whole roasted komarča (a white fish caught in the Adriatic waters off the coast of the island)—the meatiest and most succulent fish I’ve ever tasted (see above for a before-and-after). It was all accompanied by several bottles of the family’s red wine, which was surprisingly dry and drinkable. And the cost for this several-hour feast of local ingredients, prepared in the home oven of a skilled Croatian cook, was a mere $100 (US) for all four of us.

How to find your own one-of-a-kind eating experience in your next destination? Head for the local markets—they’re not always the cheapest shopping option, but they’re almost always the best. You’ll get a good sense of what’s fresh and popular among locals, and talking to the vendors will yield a wealth of knowledge about where you can find a meal prepared with just those ingredients. You’ll get a taste of the local flavor—and you’ll join the ranks of environmentally and socially responsible travelers (and eaters) the world over.

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Posted in Culinary Travel, Europe, Green Travel, Health & Wellness
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Breaking News: A fire broke out at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino at 11am this morning in Las Vegas. No serious injuries have been reported. Please check CNN.com for continued updates, or Travelocity’s FAQ page for travel-related information.

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Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Vegas veteran, there’s never been a better time to visit. As the new year begins, Vegas offers an incredible array of new resorts, renovations, nightclubs, and more. The city has never been the center of so much excitement.

Among the most captivating of these new additions is the Palazzo, which opened earlier this month and is the newest and largest resort in the city. The sister property of the Venetian, it is connected to its neighbor by walks and waterways, and its elegant architecture evokes a similar Mediterranean charm. Its luxurious sports bar and lounge, the 40/40, was created by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. And with a spacious pool deck overlooking the Strip, suites with sunken living rooms, plenty of premium restaurants, and 50-plus international boutiques, it’s poised to be the premier new hotspot in Las Vegas.

That’s not to say that your old favorites have fallen behind the times--plenty of resorts have recently opened new nightclubs and lounges. Check out Luxor’s CatHouse, Liquidity, and LAX; Planet Hollywood’s Trader Vic’s; and Bellagio’s The Bank. Mouthwatering new restaurants include Luxor’s Company American Bistro; Monte Carlo’s Diablo Cantina; Planet Hollywood’s Koi and Strip House; Excalibur’s Dick’s Last Resort; and Rio’s RUB BBQ and McFadden’s Irish Pub. The Mirage is also exquisitely renovated and boasts a stylish new restaurant, Japonais, which serves contemporary Japanese cuisine.

Caesars Palace’s new makeover might be the most interesting of them all. 2007 saw the opening of some of the newly renovated Forum Tower's 665 luxurious rooms, which boast flat-screen TVs built into bathroom mirrors and sweeping vistas of the Bellagio fountains and the Wynn golf course. There’s also a new French restaurant, Payard, and a new luxury spa, Qua, which includes a cold room--aptly named the frigidarium--where it actually snows.

And that’s not all--upcoming additions to the Vegas scene include Encore at the upscale Wynn Las Vegas; the completion of Caesars Palace's Forum Tower renovations this April; and the opening of Donald Trump’s much-talked-about resort.

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Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Casinos & Gambling, Culinary Travel, Entertainment, Las Vegas, Spas
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"Oh! And the Czech Republic isn't on the euro either!" my fiancé gleefully reported yesterday.

We've chosen the absolute worst year to get married and go on a honeymoon abroad. Our plan was to take two glorious weeks off work and see a new corner of the world, something neither of us has ever done before. Unfortunately, the weak American dollar isn't exactly cooperating.

Bye-bye Barcelona. Hello Bangkok. The great search for a cheap honeymoon destination has begun. Instead of bemoaning the dollar's plunge, we're looking at this as a chance to step off the beaten path. Much like paying for our own wedding, we have decided that where there's a will, there's a penny to be pinched.

Many budget travel articles suggest cutting costs once you arrive at classic honeymoon destinations--like London, Paris, or Madrid--by eating food from street vendors and taking public transit, but, as young adults, we already travel like that. I've learned that we're not looking for budget travel. We're looking for rock-bottom, jaw-dropping, mega-cheap travel deals that don't involve strapping on a ratty backpack and crossing tricky borders. We want to be pampered and sleep in elegant environs--and we want to do for it for less than $150 a day.

I'm here to tell you it can still be done, as long as you choose wisely. Here's my list of luxurious honeymoon destinations where you can party like its 1999 on the dollar. It bears mentioning that none of them has a current travel warning from the U.S. State Department.

1) Thailand

2) Belize

3) Romania

4) Mexico

5) Argentina

6) Kosrae (Micronesia)

7) Vietnam

Do you have a destination to add? I'm all ears.

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Posted in Budget Travel, International Travel, Mexico
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How can one possibly talk about football on a travel blog, you ask? Well, I’m not sure, but I’m going to try. Besides, reindeer running and paintball have already been done. To begin with, my experience with this year’s NFC Championship game was an international one. The New York Giants were playing the Green Bay Packers in frigid Wisconsin, and I convened with my brothers, Max and Will, at Will’s apartment. Also present were Will’s fiancée and her two friends, all three of whom are Canadian. While we Davidson boys sweated and swore and tried to sweet-talk the game in our favor, the ladies chatted and enjoyed some wine, and watched, more or less dumbfounded, at the depths of obsession that they were witnessing from three blue-bedecked, grown men on the couch. As my brother once said, “We’re not religious, but we watch the Giants every Sunday.”

The ladies are no strangers to sports culture. Dedicated hockey fans, they stand by their Maple Leafs and have no fear of harsh winter weather like the arctic chill that swept through Lambeau Field. They scoff at the lack of toughness in athletes who are not hockey players and at the knowledge and dedication of American sports fans. However, by the third quarter the women were rapt, in part by the game, but also by the three 6’3” boys perched on the sofa’s edge, biting nails, bouncing legs, and clenching fists in nervous anticipation of every down. As regulation time wound down, one of his fiancée's friends actually leaned over to check Will’s pulse. He didn’t notice the hand at his jugular; he was too busy willing his heart to continue beating—or not to explode—as Tynes’ field goal hooked wide left, sending the game into overtime.

When all was said and done, after my brothers and I woke the neighborhood with our wild-eyed leaping, yelling celebration, the Torontoniennes—as relieved as anyone that the game was finally over—admitted that the excitement had surpassed any Leafs game they had ever watched, and that the display of fanaticism was both so uniquely American in the specificity of the sport, but also culturally universal. On top of the incidental lesson in foreign relations that the Davidson ambassadors administered, there was yet another, deeper meaning.

You see, Big Blue has exemplified what it means to be good travelers. They are well-prepared when they hit the road—winning a record 10 consecutive road games—including those situations that don’t necessarily fit into their regular itinerary. Whether they were forced inside, or into unseasonable warmth, or even dangerous freezing cold, they have persevered. They have counted on their preparations, made adjustments in their plans where necessary, and are now getting ready for the trip of a lifetime. Let’s hope they get one more chance to travel before next season.

Have you experienced such sports fanaticism as a stranger in a very strangely obsessed land?

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Posted in Entertainment, Family & Kids, Festivals & Events, Ski & Sport
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As December 27 dawned, millions of Kenyans headed to polling sites to vote for a president. As December 27 drew to a close, I booked an airline ticket from Nairobi to New York. And as the next few days progressed, Kenya plunged into violence that has left more than 650 people dead, so far.

I’ve spent the past few weeks reading horrific tales of bloodshed with the hope that post-election killings will cease any day. I’m not scheduled to visit Kenya for another 5 months, but regardless of how much the situation improves by then, it’s scary to think that what is widely regarded as the most stable country in Africa can dissolve into tribal conflicts and machete attacks at the drop of a ballot.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member smokeysf

The violence is never far from my mind; a friend with whom I’m traveling signed us up to receive email notices from the US State Department, so I’ve been getting near-daily warnings in my inbox, along with invitations to town-hall meetings in Kenya. And I’m not the only traveler wondering what happens when you have a ticket to a dangerous situation. The New York Times, the Seattle Times, and every publication in between has been searching for answers.

For my part, I called the airline to inquire if it’s possible to change my itinerary free of charge (so that I’d fly to New York from Tanzania). The airline’s website says that it’s allowing fliers to postpone immediate travel to Kenya, but doesn’t hint at what it might do if the violence continues. And since I’m organizing a trip where I’ll be meeting friends arriving from all over the world, it seems complicated—and potentially risky—to wait until the last minute to decide that we all need to bypass Kenya. I was curious if we could make that difficult decision now and pursue a new plan.

Apparently not. At least, not without paying a fare difference and a change fee. So we’re going to wait a bit longer to discuss our options. I’m torn between my desire to see the legendary Masai Mara and my instinct to play it 100% safe. Somehow the assurances that tourists aren’t targets are not very assuring. In life, as in travel, things are unpredictable.

Do any other travelers have experience with touch-and-go trips—or words of advice on what to do when political violence or other unforeseen circumstances come into play when you’re planning?

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Posted in International Travel, Security & Safety
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I always hate it when they issue reports saying how it has been a record year for air travel saftey. I just think, do we really want to tempt fate? 2007 was one such year. In fact reports say it was the safest year for air transit since 1963. Certainly something to be proud of. Absolutely. But do we want to boast?

Because here we are in 2008 and we're already off to a rocky start with a British AIrways plane landing short of the runway at Heathrow airport last week. Fortunately British Airways reported that all 136 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely from the plane and those who were injured were taken to the hospital.

I say lets be grateful for all our technology, emergency response teams, and safety records. But lets also remain humble and completely focused on making 2008 an even safer year for flight.

Photo by IgoUgo member Kimbis

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When I was recently asked to appear on a local New York City news station (watch the clip here) to discuss the top travel destinations for 2008, I got to thinking that where you want to go so often depends on what kind of traveler you are. So I identified five kids of travelers, or vacation experiences, and picked a destination I thought was an ideal match for each. But what I really want to know is: What are your top destinations for 2008? What trips do you have planned for the coming year?

While I wait for your answer, check out my picks.

photo courtesy of the Four Seasons Resort Bali Jimbaran Bay

Eco-travelers: Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge is a great destination for skiers (read more in this recent piece from The New York Times), but its also a great option for eco-minded travelers. Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts, and offsets its energy use 100% through wind credits, serves local and organic food at its mountain restaurants, and even has a cool program for kids called Ske-cology where they learn about local wildlife and their habitat on the slopes.

Romance-seekers: Bali, Indonesia
I happen to know there's no better place on earth for romance than Bali, Indonesia -- in fact, it's where I spent my own honeymoon! The Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay is an all-villa resort, each with its own private plunge pool. The service at the resort is outstanding, and the Balinese are some of the warmest, kindest people on earth. Not to mention their island, with its lush green rice terraces and white-sand beaches, is stunningly beautiful.

Do-gooders: New Orleans, Louisiana
Just going to New Orleans is great, as your tourism dollars are critical to this magical city's full recovery. But you don't have to leave it at that -- you can actually spend a day or more of your vacation volunteering. Travelocity recently formed a partnership with Hands on New Orleans that lets customers sign up for a day of doing good -- whether its in a food bank, at an animal shelter, or rebuilding a school -- when they book a vacation package.

Beach bums: St. Thomas, USVI
For those of you who still don't have your passports -- and even for those of you who do -- St. Thomas is a great beach destination and easy to get to from the East Coast. Great shopping and dining, along with plenty of resorts no matter what your budget, makes it a fantastic destination for sun worshippers. If you want something a little more remote, the island of St. John is just a short ferry ride away.

Adventure-seekers: Belize, Central America
Little country, big adventure. Belize is home to some of the world's best scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as an extensive cave system ripe for exploring. Its lush jungle opens up adventure possibilities of a whole different kind -- think rappelling, horseback riding, and zip lines.

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At a dinner party last night, I was thrilled to find out that one of my fellow guests was a pilot who'd once worked for a major commercial airline. Naturally, I couldn't resist grilling her (career day style!), and the insider info she had on airline travel was pretty fascinating. Ever wonder what the pilot knows that you don't? Read on.

1. The plane isn't going to crash-land if you accidentally leave your cell phone on.
So why do flight attendants tell you to turn all electronic devices off? Well, the cell phone signals could, in theory, interfere with the plane's satellite navigation instruments---but the truth is they're so well insulated that it won't actually happen. (That's not to say you shouldn't make a habit of doing it anyway---just to be safe.)

2. Pilots can't take bathroom breaks.
You might never have considered it,. but what happens if the captain has to pee? Well, it's an arduous process. A pilot who needs to make a visit to the, uh, facilities must first alert the flight attendant, who has to block the galley with her cart. While the pilot is out of the cockpit, the flight attendant must take his place, waiting until he comes back to switch out. Warning for future pilots everywhere? Don't overdose on the iced tea. "When you have to go, it can be kind of a pain," admits my pilot. "The flight attendants might be busy serving dinner or the drink service, and then you have to wait and wait."

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member John Spreitz

3. Getting upgraded is a delicate art.
The best tool in your arsenal? A heavy stock of Frequent Flier miles, says my pilot, which--beyond their obvious function of being traded in for a better seat---show the airline you're loyal (and therefore worth keeping sweet.) Beyond that? "Be nice to the gate agent. And the key in any situation where you're interacting with airline staff is not to get angry. Keep your cool."

4. Don't drink the water.
There isn't one drop of (unbottled) water on the entire plane, says my pilot, that would pass a human safety test. Solution? By all means hydrate, but stick to bottled water only and never sip the H20 in the bathrooms. As for tea and coffee? Chances are they might have been made with bottled water too, but always ask. (If not, your best bet is to pass.)

5. The dirtiest place in the world is the airplane bathroom---but the cabin isn't much better either.
Contrary to popular belief, says my pilot, the air inside an airplane cabin isn't actually recycled---well, 20% of it is, but the other 80% is the plain old fresh stuff, brought on in air scoops as the plane moves forward. So you can stop blaming the "stale air" for getting sick. The far more likely culprit? Germs.

While ground staff might come on board to remove trash and put magazines back in seat pockets, a plane, you see, isn't actually cleaned cleaned until it's rehabbed---roughly once a year. So while you might like to believe that the cabin is disinfected between every flight, "no soapy sponge or vacuum ever touches the interior," says my pilot. Her advice? Wash your hands, wash your hands, and then wash your hands again---preferably with an anti-bacterial soap you bring on yourself (you can find them in travel-sized bottles.) Better yet, bring your own anti-bacterial wipes onto the flight as well, and give your arm rest and tray table their own going-over. (And as for those airline pillows and blankets? "Oh, don't even touch them," groans my pilot.)

A last little secret? Take heart in the fact that the cockpit isn't exactly sparkling either---most pilots don't think twice about some on-the-job snacking. "The controls and floor of the cockpit," says my pilot, "are covered in the crushed remains of every peanut that ever accidentally fell."

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I’ve toured Canada’s Ice Hotel, sipping fruity cocktails from glasses made of ice and exploring rooms with dragon-shaped beds carved out of - you guessed it - ice! Next offbeat hotel experience on my list: sleep in a drain pipe. Now, that’s just plain weird.

Strange but simplistic accurately describes Linz, Austria’s Das Parkhotel, an urban concept inspired by the city’s annual Electronica Festival. The sleepery, however, is more of a project than a hotel. Three concrete cylinders sit in a park and feature almost all the basics. What’s missing? A restroom. You’ll have to walk a few minutes to get to that, so keep your fingers crossed that Montezuma’s revenge doesn’t hit at twilight.

But, the best part is the cost: pay as you wish. Guests leave a Euro amount that they can afford to fund the project. (Don’t be stingy! Think of it as supporting the arts.)

Photo by Dietmar Tollerian.

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In the latest move to alleviate the delays that plague the nation’s busiest airports, the Department of Transportation announced yesterday that airports could charge fees for flights landing during the busiest part of the day. According to The New York Times, this might encourage airlines to fly fewer planes or schedule landing at slower times or even slower airports. The proposal is open to public comment for 45 days before it is finalized.

At present, landing fees are, for the most part, determined by weight. The revenue collected by a new pricing structure would allow operators of multiple airports, such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to distribute landing-fee revenue among facilities, according to the Washington Post.

What does this mean for the consumer? Fewer flight choices during peak hours and higher airfares seem likely, especially at New York City airports, where flight caps during peak travel hours are set to take effect in March. Business travelers in particular will feel the impact of these new regulations because they’re often forced to fly during the busiest times of day because of meetings. David Stempler, who runs the Air Travelers Association, told the Wall Street Journal, “This is just going to add further to the cost of passengers that want to go out to a meeting in the morning and come back at the end of the day."

The Wall Street Journal reported in December that the airlines, vehemently opposed to congestion pricing, thought they had won the battle. Yesterday’s announcement came as a surprise.

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Posted in Travel Alerts, Travel News
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If you’ve ever heard or uttered any of the following on the road, my guess is that you were in the midst of a stress-induced, sleep-deprived travel meltdown: “I hate you.” “I can’t believe you’re being this mean to me.” “I can’t handle this anymore.” “All you do is freak out.” “There’s hatred in my blood right now.”

This season, on the Amazing Race, team Nate and Jen have responded to every stressful travel situation by completely unraveling into shouting matches, name-calling, and even shoving. Yet somehow, they’ve managed to eke through the finish line week after week. Sunday night, after making all the above quotes in the course of just one episode, they finally met their elimination with Jen confessing sadly, “I think we killed our relationship along the way.”

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member globalroamer.

Almost everyone I know has had a travel meltdown at some time or another. One of the most spectacular I’ve ever seen was when my sister and I went camping together in Rocky Mountain National Park. At a wedding the night before, my poor sister had been a victim of food poisoning, and the weakness and lack of sleep made her a little loopy and ready to meltdown at a moment’s notice.

Cue the major thunder and windstorm that decided to hit right as we were setting up our tent. It was most of the way assembled, but not tied down, and a giant gust of wind came and set it a’tumbling end over end out of our campsite and into the forest. While I went chasing after the tent, my sister dissolved into a laughing/crying fit full of hysterics. It was a fantastic meltdown, and best of all, she didn’t take it out on anyone else (i.e. she didn't utter a single "I hate you" or "I can't handle this anymore"). We still laugh about it today.

Have you or one of your traveling companions ever responded to a stressful travel situation by having a total meltdown? If so, how’d you deal with it?

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This weekend I was inspired by my friend who proudly told me he was going snowboarding the following day at a local, east coast mountain. I was particularly impressed given the fact that he was still sporting an injury (sprained wrist and broken fingers) from his first foray into the sport. Or was he plain crazy? For years I've been thinking that (because I'm such a pathetic skier) it might be worth trying to learn snowboarding. I couldn't possibly be any worse at that. (Or perhaps it's because every instructor I've had has always suggested it, probably because you're expected to fall a lot when learning to snowboard so I might look less out of place.)

Just in time for my consideration there was the perfect article encapsulating the experience of learning to snowboard at my age in the New York Times this weekend. (I mean really, is it possible that I'm at that age where I can say, "at my age?" Given the media age for the sport is around 21 I'm practically ready for retirement!)

And yet I'm tempted... I recall the rush I got in Jackson Hole when I went through the terrain park on skis. I tried rails, jumps, and more. And you know what? It rocked! (Well, until I entered a jump wrong and came out of it on my head…) But that's what convalescing at the bar is for, right?

So with all these articles on places to ski this time of year, especially in my back yard, perhaps it's just a message that I need to get out there and take on this new challenge, even though I'm way past my prime.

Share your snowboarding, skiing or other snow adventures with me here on the Window Seat.

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When I think of Japan, I usually conjure up images of serene temples, delicate cherry trees, and of course that ever-so-delish dish of choice, sushi (although as a vegan, I’m more apt to prefer California’s version, the tasty avocado roll). Not to mention some of the most fascinating cartoon art and pop culture around (Maguro Parasite Museum, anyone?).

After reading an article in Outside magazine on ski getaways in Japan, though, I checked out Japan's Travel Info website--and man, is there ever some amazing skiing in this island nation. Nagano, the main city of Japan’s most mountainous region, is just a two-hour train ride away from Tokyo. It’s no wonder the city was selected to host the 1998 Winter Olympics: it’s got plenty of incredible ski resorts, including the largest one in Japan, and boasts 9,840-plus-foot peaks, perfect powder, and runs for all ski levels and tastes. Not to mention its incredible historical significance--it grew up around 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple Zenko-ji, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Japan. Nagano is easily the country’s best one-stop ski center.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member brunokyooshi

Another interesting thing about Japan is that it’s essentially an island of volcanoes--some of which are still very much active. Heat from volcanic activity fuels thousands of natural hot springs, or onsen. You’ll find plenty of them in Nozawa, a world-class ski area with a small-town feel. Hit the slopes by day, and spend your evenings soaking in one of the 13 free public onsen, each dedicated to a different god. Now that sounds like a way to experience the real Japan.

We’ve all been worried about the sinking value of the dollar--especially in a country like Japan, already known for its high costs. But with daily nonstop service to Tokyo from seven major U.S. cities, easy accessibility to slopes from Japan’s bullet trains, and daily passes in the Nagano area running at just $44, it just might be worth the trip.

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Posted in International Travel, Ski & Sport, Spas, Spiritual & Religious
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It took 48 hours and a side trip to Portugal, but I’ve finally made it back from Brazil.

After spending New Year’s week in South America, three friends and I arrived at the Rio de Janeiro airport to discover that our flight home had been canceled—and that the first available flight out of Rio on any airline would be on January 21. It was January 6.

We pleaded with an agent to find us at least one seat going anywhere on any flight that evening—one of my friends had to make it to Canada for a funeral. But after over an hour of suggesting solutions and being told we were stuck in Rio because it was “peak season” and because flights were full due to the “weak American dollar” (what?), we were turned away with hotel vouchers in hand and assured that the airline would conduct a “big meeting” to work out a solution overnight.

At the hotel, we met the rest of the stranded cast of characters (the motley group seated for midnight dinner looked like a flashback straight out of Oceanic Flight 815). We called family members in the US, who phoned the airline’s US service center, and one of the other passengers called his pilot uncle, all to no avail. While our outside sources all confirmed that there were indeed no seats for weeks, they also told us to go to the airport as early as possible the next morning. Surely our plane would arrive for us.

And so we headed to the airport again before 7am. The first airline employee arrived at 5:15pm.

In the meantime, we tried to take matters into our own hands by talking to other airlines, but without someone from our own airline to approve sending us via another, we were still stuck. We called the airline’s Brazilian phone number, which only went through five percent of the time, and which helped us zero percent of the time. We continued having family members call the US number, but the solutions they could offer were still days away. Somehow along the way, we ended up in the bowels of Air France’s lost luggage, where someone tried to give us random suitcases; we signed 4 contracts and waited 40 minutes to buy a phone card; we made random friends, including an Aerolineas Argentinas employee who was loose with a working telephone; and we became so adept at Portuguese that we translated for Spaniards ordering lunch (frango, carne, and queijo).

Also along the way, representatives from Brazil’s aviation administration showed up, demanding that the airport find a way to get us out of the country.

And, thankfully, our friend who had to get home immediately did, though it was of his own doing and on his own dime and involved five airports.

When the three of us remaining finally got to speak with an airline agent, being the first people in line paid off: they found a way to send us home to New York and LA almost immediately, but it would be via Lisbon. The one in Portugal. In Europe. On an airline with seats that reclined onto your lap and with maniacal toddlers in emergency-exit rows trying to open the exit door—I actually had to lunge to push the handle shut again while I waited in line for the restroom.

Two transatlantic flights, three Lisbon interrogations, and six confiscated duty-free bottles later, we landed at Newark. I’ve never worked so hard to end a vacation before, so as much as I miss the beach and the beauty of Brazil, I’m delighted to be home and back at work—two days late, but quite a bit before January 21.

Lessons learned? First of all, choose an airline with a sizeable presence in your destination airport; choosing one that runs one flight out of Rio a day left us with few options. And always confirm your flight’s status online before you head to the airport. I do this at home, but rarely when traveling, and that was a mistake. Don’t let employees push you away to a hotel before you’ve exhausted every option; things won’t necessarily be rosier in the morning. Definitely make sure you confirm what time your airline opens a counter at the airport. And lastly, give yourself some leeway when possible by going home a day or two early.

I hope those tips help others avoid my predicament. And now I’ll be attending to part two of my coming-home saga: the credit-card fraud that happened somewhere along the way. But even with the absurdity of the last few days, I’d do it all over again to see Brazil; while my case of transit woe is worse than any I’ve heard lately, it’s still a part of traveling. And it’s worth it.

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Posted in Air Travel, International Travel, South America
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I grew up in Panama City, Florida, one of the weirdest corners of America, a place where we boil peanuts and signs read, "No shirt. No shoes. No problem!" When I travel I'm much more likely to choose Dollywood over Hollywood, Austin over Dallas, or Versailles (pronounced ver-sails), Kentucky over that silly palace in France.

Maybe that's why I love Alaska. Recently I had the opportunity to see how life is lived in this rugged state. Around every corner awaited a new oddball thrill. I'll never forget when our tour director gleefully pointed out the town of Wasilla. Among its many attributes, Wasilla was the 2003 Duct Tape Capital of the World, consuming more tape per capita than anywhere else. Plus, each year there is a Duct Tape Ball (moved to Anchorage due to popularity) where Alaskans show their passion for the silvery stuff by making gala duds out of tape.

This winter, Alaska has added yet another bizarre attraction to its ever-growing list of wackiness. Anchorage will host the first annual Running of the Reindeer, a fun twist on Pamplona's Running of the Bulls. On February 24th, the city will unleash a dozen caribou (reindeer) on the streets of the city. For the price of just $20 you can be one of the lucky victims/participants. Don't worry. The organizers have assured the skeptical that reindeer antlers are much too soft to inflict any gore.

The Running of the Reindeer is just one of many off-the-wall events held during Anchorage's winter festival called The Fur Rendezvous, or just Fur Rondy to the locals. Other events include snow sculpture contests, dog sled races, the Frostbite Footrace, snowshoe softball, and more. Suddenly that trip to the Caribbean is looking a little vanilla, no?

This winter, if you want to have an up-close-and-personal encounter with Vixen, try Alaska on for size. And save me a bowl of reindeer chili if you do.

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Posted in Offbeat, Alaska
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As you may or may not remember, I just got back from a wedding. I was looking forward to the New Year’s Eve wedding—it was actually on New Year’s Eve, not the weekend prior—and it turned out to be a fantastic time. By the time everyone would have arrived at any other party, the reception was already in full swing; food, wine, and dance abounded, as they should at any celebration.

As far as weddings go, the one I was at was pretty laid-back. Nonetheless, upon entering my hotel room after seven hours of driving (including one highly suspect speeding ticket), I was given a welcome bag filled with, among other things, candy, a bottle of water, and an itinerary.

Now, this is where one has to be careful when traveling for a wedding. Even the term “destination wedding” is such an odd one as, invariably, people will be traveling to get to wherever the wedding is. You see, when you go to a wedding, you are not a traveler. It doesn’t matter how many rounds of golf you manage to sneak in, how many museums you visit, or how long your afternoon run is the day of the service; you are a guest. You are expected to behave a certain way (depending on how the evening goes, I suppose), and you are expected to be at certain places at certain time. You should accept it, that’s the way it is. It is not your vacation, but someone else’s wedding, and you’re there to celebrate them.

That said, when you are not going to someone’s wedding, or attending some other similar function where your punctuality and decorum are under scrutiny—say, visiting in-laws, or soon-to-be in-laws—then it is important to try to do away with itineraries after a certain amount of planning. Scheduling a trip can be difficult, for sure, especially when things tend to go awry; best laid plans, after all.

A recent article really struck a chord with me. The basic gist of the article highlights that, since life is unpredictable, so travel will be. No amount of highlighting maps or checking train timetables (except for maybe in Switzerland or Germany) can account for everything that can and will go wrong. Poor Michelle was due back in the office yesterday but her flight back from Brazil was cancelled. So she was stuck there. Poor, poor Michelle. Apparently, she got a flight back today—via Lisbon, Portugal.

So what to do? Surely, anal retentive travelers will prepare for most possible calamities—they will never run out of TP, they have several possible hostels listed, and will have the evacuation insurance ready when things go really haywire. Is it just me, or is it sometimes more fun just to go? I spent a semester of college in Melbourne, Australia. My friend and I flew there, with no return ticket and no place to live after our initial five days. With a little finagling, we worked it out and managed to prove to our young selves that, not only did we possess the resolve to subsist without immediate future care, but that there was a certain amount of real excitement in being a stranger without a clue in a strange land. Of course, we were in an English-speaking country, and never felt that we’d be sleeping out in the street, but don’t tell us that back then.

It’s always good to know what you want to do or where you want to go to an extent, but you can’t let that interfere with what’s really important. While in Switzerland as a teenager with my family one summer, the best day I spent there was not visiting the medieval town of Fribourg, or visiting the wondrous Tinguely museum, but walking around Basel and running into my brother, who was also wandering around. We stopped and bought Cuban cigars because we could, and had a Coke at a table outside and watched the city go by. It was unscripted and something I never would have thought to do at age 15, but it turned into my clearest memory of a whole country.

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It can happen to anyone. You may be vigilant about checking in online, careful to arrive at the airport early, and insistent on flying direct, but even the most well-honed travel savvy is sometimes no match for simple math and Murphy’s Law. Just 2% of bags are declared irretrievably lost by airlines each year, seemingly innocuous odds that become more dangerous the more frequently you travel. Sooner or later, it will happen to you.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member dinkime

“Well, great,” you say. “So unless I can stuff a single clothing change and a mini shower kit into my carry-on, it’s no use traveling at all.” Not so. Just take a deep breath, get into your zen mindset, and be sure you’ve taken a few simple precautions to get those odds on your side.

Branch out from black.
You already know you should. You’ve spent enough time trying to spot your bag on the luggage carousel, searching intently for that little detail that only you recognize: a missing zipper, a personalized luggage tag, a particular tear in the material. Your first investment in 2008? A new set of luggage in your favorite color (if it’s black, go with your second-favorite color). Can’t spring for new bags? Just make that personalized luggage tag bright and easy to spot (the tackier and more fluorescently colored, the better). Stick two of them on there for good measure. Anything to make your missing bag, lying in a sea of other missing bags, easy to spot and therefore less likely to be lost in the shuffle.

Pack smartly.
Leave your valuables at home. And if you just have to bring along something especially valuable or even irreplaceable, always pack it in your carry-on. No excuses. What you should pack in your checked luggage is a document containing the address and contact numbers at which you can be reached on your trip, along with any other details relevant to reaching you while you’re away. Put it in a big envelope, clearly labeled “Travel Details and Contact Information,” and pack it right on top. If your bag is lost, there’s a better chance that anyone who finds it will be able to reach you and return your things. If your bag makes it to your destination, you’ll have a handy reference to keep with you on your trip.

Get there early already.
We’ve preached it many times, but some of you (and I count myself among you) need one more reason to arrive at the airport early. Not only will you save yourself a huge blood-pressure spike; afford yourself the luxury of staying cool at the sight of serpentine check-in and security lines; and allow for ample time to people-watch, have a beer in the airport bar, and browse gossip magazines; but you’ll also give your airline’s luggage handlers no excuse not to ensure that your bags are onboard. And you’ll leave yourself the time and wherewithal to peel any old luggage scanning tags off your checked bags (no need to invite confusion), double-check your luggage tags to be sure all contact information is current, and watch carefully to be sure your bags are tagged correctly at check-in.

Be proactive.
The rest of your flight’s passengers have gathered their bags and gone home, but yours has yet to make an appearance on the conveyor belt. Go straight to the luggage claim counter (it’s smart to take stock of where it is right when you arrive in baggage claim), give them as many details about your luggage as possible (see how choosing a distinctive bag will help you out?), and write down your luggage claim number somewhere where you won’t lose it. Keep it with you at all times. If your bag is deemed “delayed,” don’t leave without confirming that it’s been located in the airline’s tracking system; make note of the flight number for the flight on which it will be delivered to your destination. The airline will usually offer to deliver the bag to you upon arrival; however, weigh your options carefully. Sure, it’s a pain to spend the first few hours of vacation sitting at the airport, but if your bag is scheduled to be delivered in the next hour or two, it might be worth the wait to eliminate the possibility of still more mishaps by involving a third party (the courier company).

If you’ll have to wait overnight or, worse, your luggage has been declared missing, your airline may offer compensation for clothing and toiletries to tide you over—but you’ll have to ask for it. Don’t expect an all-out shopping spree, either: you’ll probably only be reimbursed for the bare minimum, and you’ll need to be prepared to show receipts. Knowing you’ll have some red tape to deal with, prioritize what’s really worth claiming (perhaps it’s not really worth causing a fuss over your replacement toothbrush, for example).

Finally, remember that being proactive isn’t synonymous with being aggressive and angry. A little patience and common courtesy will go a long to way to securing the help of the people who are responsible for finding your bags.

Don’t panic.
If the worst does happen and your bag is declared lost, stay calm. A friend of mine recently found his delayed luggage lost after a courier service left it on the front porch of his rental house and failed to knock or call to ensure that he’d received it. When he checked the porch a few hours later, the bag was gone. The first step is to create as accurate and detailed a list of luggage contents as you can. Call the airline to file a claim to be reimbursed for the current value (note: that’s not the replacement value, but the depreciated value of your belongings, up to a maximum that the individual airline sets), and contact your regular home or renter’s insurance (some credit card companies even offer a basic level of insurance if you purchased your tickets using their card) to determine your options. If the experience hasn’t completely soured your opinion of the airline, consider asking for a more generous reimbursement in airline credits. For more information, check out The Travel Insider’s