Zoom Airlines, a Canada-based low-cost carrier, abruptly shut down and began bankruptcy proceedings yesterday, leaving passengers from Vancouver to London stranded.

According to an article on CBC.ca, Zoom said the rising costs of fuel and a weakened economy over the past year forced it to ground its planes.

On their website, Hugh and John Boyle, the founders of Zoom, direct their travelers to other airlines for re-accommodation and made this statement: "We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff.”

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Posted in Air Travel, Canada, Travel News
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It was the buzzword of the travel industry this summer. You may call it a "staycation" but I call it a "nocation." And if you think about the premise behind what a staycation really is -- staying home and doing nothing -- you'll realize that it really just means not going on vacation. From here on out I will no longer call this phenomenon as a staycation -- I prefer to call it what it is. A nocation!

An article in today's New York Times details the staycation of one man whose cancelled trip to Jamaica forced him into a nocation. He stayed in bed, mostly, and watched Judge Judy. His back started to hurt from being in bed so much. People -- this is insanity. Nocations will eventually lead to bedsores if we're not careful!

The irony of all this nocation talk is that maybe you didn't need to take one after all. Maybe you could have afforded that summer trip. I was convinced that traveling was not as expensive as the media hype would have you believe and it turns out I was right. Analyzing flight and hotel data from July, I was able to easily identify 14 cities where the cost increase of a trip was no more than $50 more expensive than it was last year. Some cities were even less expensive in July 2008 than July 2007. Here are the complete findings.

I don't want to say that $50 isn't a lot of money, because when it seems like the cost of everything is up -- from gas to groceries -- even a few dollars can seem like a lot. To offset any additional costs, here are a few tips:

Book a vacation package. Bundling your flight, hotel, and any extras like a rental car together will save $240 on average.

Take advantage of every promotion. For example, $50 off any 3-night Hotel + Activity package in California . In Colorado, $75 off any 4-night Flight + Hotel vacation. These promotions do have some restrictions, as well as limited availability. See Travelocity.com for more detailed information.

Book a GoodBuy Hotel. Pre-paying for specially negotiated, discounted hotel rooms guarantees you a low price – plus, for a limited time, you get $50 off many properties when you book a 3-night stay on your MasterCard.

Look for freebies. Many hotels offer “free night” promotions with a certain length of stay; resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico offer “kids stay free” promotions.

Finally -- don't let the media scare you into thinking you can't travel. Maybe you can, and maybe you can't. But do yourself a favor and find out for yourself before you let them ruin your next VAcation.

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Posted in Budget Travel, Travel News
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As travelers, there's not much we can do about what's happening with the airline industry right now. But, we can at least laugh about it. In his blog, Chris Elliot wrote a piece called What’s so funny about airline fees? Everything!, highlighting videos that make fun of the airline industry. Check it out.

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Here at The Window Seat, we often get emails from readers chronicling hair-raising tales from their travels. Some of the stories are so horrific that I think it’s time to share them and see what everybody thinks.

A Shade Too Much
Beth A. writes, “Who controls the window shade on a flight? Is it the person who sits by the window? Is it a mutual agreement? I ask because on a recent flight, the guy in the aisle seat (there was no one in the middle) kept asking me to put it down. I like it up, but I agreed to be nice, but then when he was asleep I put it back up so I could look out the window, which is the whole reason I wanted the window seat in the first place. He was really rude about it when he woke up.”

Beth, here’s my personal rule of thumb. Whoever bought the window seat owns the shade--except after 9pm, when it should be closed no matter what. It can be raised again at 7am. I think you may have been sitting next to a vampire.

Single-Minded Travel
Last week, Caroline P. wrote me about a trip to Kauai she was planning. She was off to Hawaii for work, then extending her trip for a few days to see the island on her own. One particular tour caught her eye and she began to get excited about the fun that awaited her. But when she called the tour operator to reserve her spot they told her they didn’t have space for one and could only accommodate couples and groups. When Caroline said, “Isn't that single person discrimination?” the tour operator replied that he'd call her if there was another “random one” that she could be matched with.

Caroline, I think you’ve got a case. This seems like discrimination to me, pure and simple.

Bait and Switch
Just to change things up, here’s one that happened to me. Recently I went on a trip to France. Being nervous about the 15-hour flight, I looked up plane maps on Seat Guru and carefully chose the perfect aisle seat on each leg of my journey. On my flight home, an able-bodied couple in their early 40s asked if I would change seats with one of them so they could sit together. They both had a middle seat in two separate rows. I frowned at them and said, “Well…um…” They began to beg and I caved in. I spent a non-stop, 15-hour flight from Paris to San Francisco fuming. It would have been different, I thought, if they were older or traveling with small children. But as it stood, they simply put their own needs above mine. Or was I being petty about the whole thing?

Should I have said no? Should they have even put me in that situation? When is it okay to ask someone to change seats with you? Is it ever?

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Posted in Air Travel, Hawaii
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Welcome to The Window Seat Podcast!

In this episode of The Window Seat Podcast, we're heading to the "new" Las Vegas. Vegas is famous for reinventing itself. Over the years, the city has undergone tons of transformations -- from Rat Pack glamour to Elvis glitz to Disney-like resorts. But today's Vegas has a whole new game. If you haven't been in a while, you might be surprised to hear that its latest incarnation is a sophisticated cultural mecca, featuring world-renowned chefs, luxurious hotels, high-profile nightclubs, hit shows and top musical performers. Reporter Apryl Lundsten checked out the latest spots to eat, stay and play.

Listen to the whole show: [12:10]

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With everyone and their mother offering slideshows of the most memorable Olympic moments of these most recent games, I’ve gotten to thinking about what it is that makes photos so much fun to look at. Just take a look at this Fritz Hoffman collection from our friends at National Geographic. More than painting or writing or, really, any other artistic medium, photography is arguably the most successful way to convey a moment. At IgoUgo, we rely on travelers’ to add their photos to journals. Those photos complement—and often can overshadow—the written reviews themselves.

More than almost any industry, travel seems to dominate as a hotbed of amateur photographers.

After all, not everyone can carry around a palate and easel, nor is everyone comfortable to put into words their thoughts and memories about a place. Yet, without batting an eyelash, they offer up their latest roll—or memory card—of film. Digital cameras encourage the shutterbug and facilitate taking more shots. Of course, many photographers scorn the digital camera for just that purpose, but you need not look far for high quality, non-professional photography.

Robert Doisneau’s photo of two lovers kissing on a Paris street is one of the most iconic photos in history. The kiss itself was admittedly staged, but the scene is still comprised of all the parts that make up "Paris" in the collective mind: romance and cafés, architecture, and movement. There’s even a guy in a beret. Likewise, New York’s foundation as a diverse boomtown and architectural wonderland is apparent in Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, where rough-looking workers teeter on a girder overlooking Central Park, fancy hotels, and white collar office buildings.

I was inspired by a Budget Travel slideshow from a photographer named Ian Gittler. His shots of New York are of the carefully crafted yet impossible-to-setup variety that New York City is so proficient at creating and which are difficult to capture in their unpredictability. His shot of the welder at night (number 16) got me thinking about the New York that I used to picture. I came across a Flickr account which succeeds in capturing the infamous grittiness for which New York was known in the 70s and 80s. Meanwhile, some friends of mine are artists and have chosen their current home, Queens, as both inspiration and canvas. I love this action shot of their work being put to good use. It looks like it could have been taken last week or 50 years ago but is definitive of its locale.

More than just the standard tourist photos of a backpacker holding up the tower of Pisa, or cuddling a half-stoned koala in an Australian zoo, it is the travel photos that give a true sense of a place to which you’ve never been, or recall smells and sounds of a once-familiar location that make me stop to look and offer more than just a passing comment.

What are some of your favorite iconic travel photographs?

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I’m no safety expert, but, as a consumer, this announcement disturbed me and left me wondering: Seriously, what next?

Only a few weeks after reporting a 32 percent decline in net income, Jazz Air, the regional carrier for Air Canada, decided to remove life vests from its planes to reduce weight and save a few bucks.

A Jazz Air spokesperson said that the removal of these vests is in accordance with Transportation Canada regulations, which requires only one means of floatation when operating flights within 50 nautical miles from shore. Jazz Air will rely on the seat cushions as the sole flotation device.

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Four catfish, two tortoises, an alligator, and a snake walk onto a runway. (Okay, maybe the snake didn’t walk.) The punch line isn’t quite as funny as the setup, though: a Delta Air Lines flight was delayed coming into Florida’s Melbourne International Airport last week because it had to wait for the amphibious party to break up.

It turns out that flight delays brought on by mischievous animals aren’t so rare, especially in recent months. Perhaps it’s a new air trend? Consider the following incidents.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member wanderluster

On June 16, about 100 flights were prohibited from taking off or landing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport while jackals, lizards, and raptors reconnoitered on runways.

Two days later, an American Airlines flight bound for Bogota was held in Miami after a skunk was discovered in the plane’s cargo hold. Caught red-handed, the skunk retaliated by filling the cargo area and cabin with a terrible odor, and all passengers had to unload until the stench dissipated.

Three weeks later, on July 8, a tick stopped a United Airlines flight from leaving Denver until another, less tick-ridden plane arrived to take passengers to Des Moines. (The tick was, of course, booked in economy class.)

And in keeping with this seemingly seasonal phenomenon, Milan’s airport closed for hours last June while about 60 hares were rounded up so they could, er, get a room.

I think there’s a lesson in here somewhere, so the next time I’m delayed due to weather, a late inbound flight, mechanical repairs, air traffic, or anything else, I’ll console myself with the knowledge that the situation could, in fact, be more ridiculous.

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You’ve heard of Swedish massage (kneading), deep-tissue (poking), Shiatsu (pushing), and hot-stone massage (balancing), but Hawaii’s lomilomi massage blends natural island ingredients and traditions for the ultimate in rejuvenation and healing. On a recent trip to Hawaii, I sought out massage treatments on three different islands, done in three different ways.

To get a sense of what lomilomi massage is all about, imagine the arm movements of a hula dancer—they’re rolling and flowing, spiritually dedicated, gentle yet strong. Lomilomi feels as if someone is going through the motions of hula on your back, and literally means “loving hands.”

Photo: Stone table steam treatment at the Wyland Waikiki's Spa Pure.

Kauai: Anara Spa at the Grand Hyatt Resort
My first lomilomi treatment took place on Kauai following a six-hour flight that had been delayed. I’d been hauling all my luggage around and was in need of some good relaxation as a way to kick-off my Hawaii experience.

Why the Anara Spa? First, it’s the largest spa on Kauai and just recently completed a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation to blend the natural splendor of the island’s gardens and plants with the healing customs of the Hawaiians. My treatment, for example, began with a sea-salt foot cleanse after which I was led to my own private bungalow, also called a hale, with a thatched roof and its own private enchanted garden with an outdoor lava-rock shower and steam grotto.

There is nothing like late-afternoon birdsong and the sound of the trade-winds rustling in the palm trees to foster a sense of well-being. While I listened, my lomilomi treatment utilized purifying ti leaves, coconut oils, and wonderfully warmed stones worn smooth by the Kauai river. I was instructed in deep “aloha breath,” and was told to take all my tensions and send them inside the stones. What tensions? At that point, I’d already achieved a deep sense of lokahi, the Hawaiian word for unity, harmony, and balance.

Maui: The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Spa
When I arrived at the Ritz, I was a little flustered. To get to Maui from Kauai, I’d changed planes in Honolulu, but my luggage apparently didn’t change planes with me, and so I arrived at the hotel with just the clothes on my back. No matter--I was quickly ushered through the bamboo entryway into a robe and slippers and past a wall of water into a treatment room with quiet candlelight.

The water wall was the spa’s homage to waihua, another Hawaiian concept surrounding the most pure form of water. It literally translates to “heavenly rainfall,” and the Ritz-Carlton property itself sits beside a sacred ancient Hawaiian burial ground.

Lost luggage completely forgotten I succumbed to the lulling motions of the lomilomi and to Maui’s aromatic herbs and flowers, including local lavender, which is farmed up on the cooler slopes of Haleakala. At the massage’s end, a delightfully warmed-up robe was the perfect finishing touch.

Oahu: Spa Pure at the Wyland Waikiki
A product of cosmopolitan Honolulu, the treatment at Spa Pure was the least traditional of my island massages. It began in an outdoor ocean-saltwater pool, where I was cradled and positioned in a series of poses designed to release tension. The circular motions of the treatment weren’t really my thing, but many people attest to a deep relaxation brought on by the particular combination of warm water and weightlessness.

After that, I entered a room with tables made from ganban yoku stone, which was heated up to a toasty 103-degrees and infused with steamed herbs while I lay under a canopy of towels. Like being in a sauna, the aim is rid the body of toxins and it left my skin feeling refreshed and smooth--the perfect thing right before a long red-eye plane ride home.

When combined with massage, these methods represent a medley of traditions from the many cultures that mingle together in Hawaii’s capital city, and a new path to relaxation borrowed from around the world.

Have you experienced island-style healing, traditional or otherwise? Got any questions? Let me know!

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With the closing ceremonies behind us it’s time to say bye-bye to Beijing. Though these games were a spectacular in many ways your memories are already starting to fade. Of course there are things we will never forget…The US swimming champ Michael Phelps winning a phenomenal 8 gold medals; the brilliance of the Chinese in sweeping the sports most other countries ignore boosting China to a fantastic high of 51 gold medals; and Usain Bolt breaking the world record for the 200. But there are many things that are better left behind: the possibility of some of Chinese athletes competing under age; the fact that the Chinese conducted the games like the Great Oz manipulating everything from a “cuter” singer to digitized effects; or the that the bold-faced lie promising a totally open and free media. Ah well, it’s time to look to the future. And so I turn your attention to the Winter Olympics s'il vous plait. It is now Canada’s turn.

Don’t for a second think they aren’t aware of the tremendous pressure that comes with the privilege of hosting. I travelled to Whistler while the Beijing Games were in full-swing and got a close look at the prep.

Fortunately, Vancouver and Whistler boast beautiful, clear air on a regular basis so such fundamentals like breathing conditions are not an issue. However, for the Winter Olympic venues it’s often more an issue of how to deal with getting people from place to place. You have events like hockey and ice skating which need large stadiums contrasted with the outdoor expanse required by the skiing events. Vancouver will host the games and many of the events are taking place in or around the city but all of the skiing and sliding events are happening in Whistler.

Once the venues were decided on the next thing to be sorted was the transportation for getting from Vancouver to Whistler (usually about a two-hour ride by car) on a two-lane highway. Of course with the kind of traffic that Olympics get this highway would be bumper-to-bumper for days at that size. Work is going round the clock to expand the highway to four lanes in time for the games. While it has caused some unpredictable delays for tourists and townies alike – the project seems to be going well. Locals boast that it may even be completed ahead of schedule.

Once you get up to Whistler and view the Olympic Park, Creekside, and the Sliding Center you can see various events in the making. It’s not often that you can see how an Olympic Luge is constructed after all. When finished, Whistler’s sliding track will be one of only 15 like it in the world. You realize just how mighty it is – and despite a lack of snow and ice I could absolutely picture the Bobsled, Skeleton and Luge events to come. (By the way, after the events are over, you can come here to try it out for yourself!)

But perhaps even more imposing in summer is going down the road to see the building of the ski jumps. The jumps themselves loom massive – even the “smaller” one made me turn away in fear. (And when you do a 180 you realize the natural beauty of the place. I could imagine this incredible valley and mountains off in the distance covered in snow and anticipate how Olympic skiers will stare this down as they psych themselves up.) It’s awesome.

Yet beyond all of the game preparation perhaps one of the most impressive and contrasting notes to Beijing is all the talk of sustainability. Not only is it critical to manage the environment responsibly to the Canadians here but also to care for the creatures in the natural environment. I pondered this in greater detail as a young Black Bear (called a yearling by the locals well versed in Bear) crossed our path near the ski area. In Whistler great care has been given to smart site selection with the absolute minimal vegetation clearing for events, thought has been given to the long-term operations of each facility, and efficiency is high on the list of important items to the engineers and operators here.

I don’t know about you, but after a visit to our neighbors to the North I started getting a whole lot more excited for the Winter Olympics. I hope that the Canadians can inspire us all to a more responsible Olympics, in every way.

Let the games begin….

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On Wednesday, American Airlines expanded its availability of in-flight Internet services, essentially granting everyone with a laptop, BlackBerry, or other Wi-Fi-enabled device the ability to stay plugged in once they hit the skies. Services are available for $12.95 per flight on Boeing 767-200 airplanes connecting New York with Los Angeles and San Francisco with Miami.

American isn’t the first airline to offer such services. JetBlue has been connecting passengers for free on its BetaBlue aircraft since December 2007, as has Air France on its Airbus A318 jets. Other international airlines such as Qantas in Australia and Dubai’s Emirates airlines offer similar services. Domestically, Delta, Southwest, and other airlines also have in-flight Wi-Fi programs in the works.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member rokiss.ch.

This bit of news could be a huge relief to those of us who spend a fair amount of time in the air. For business travelers, in-flight Internet is conceivably a great way to stay in the loop while on a lengthy flight to an important meeting--or a critical means of putting out fires in need of immediate address. Plus, it’s easy to see the benefits of the World Wide Web when contrasted with the familiar alternatives: staring glassy-eyed out at unchanging clouds, leafing through dated magazines (half-finished crosswords have got to be among my biggest pet peeves of all time), or chit-chatting with the stranger next to you who smells like onions and won’t stop leaning on your armrest.

That said, there are potential downsides to the emergence of the Internet on airplanes. Concerns have been voiced about the content of sites perused--for example, whether certain websites should be allowed in the vicinity of small children (although apparently airlines already have measures in place for similar issues with inappropriate books, magazines, and general conduct). Personally, I’d be a bit irked if someone in an aisle seat next to me was nose-deep in their laptop for the entirety of a long flight. I’m not too excited about the prospect of having to cause a big commotion each time I get up to use the restroom.

There’s also the age-old lament about the disappearance of yet another safe haven where we can just unplug and tune out the world in general. But since similar concerns have probably been voiced about the advent of everything from the phonograph to the iPhone, I’m not too sure about the weight of this particular argument. That’s progress, my friends. Love it or leave it.

What do you think about in-flight Internet? Is it a blessing, or another burden in the long list of airline woes?

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Posted in Air Travel, Business Travel, Travel News
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Rare is the person who hasn't complained about the price of gas in the last few months: with driving and flying becoming steadily more expensive, the numbers at the pump can curb even the most severe case of wanderlust.

Here's a novel idea, though: what if you could actually use the fluctuating price of oil to your advantage? Believe it or not, the Victorian Inn in Monterey, California wants its guests to do exactly that. From Monday through Thursday, August 18 through September 30, room rates at the hotel will be dictated by the price of a barrel of oil.

Yup, you heard that right: these crazy old gas prices might actually be a good thing. Each Friday, the price of a room will be set for the following week based on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s price for a barrel of light sweet crude oil at the final bell of the New York Stock Exchange. And the payoff for you? (Apart from thumbing your nose at the oil industry, we mean?) Well, you might just save a few bucks. And in the current economy, that's nothing to sniff at.

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A reporter recently posed a question that prompted a bit of digging on my part. He asked: Is there something about capacity cuts at airlines that will drive more overbooked flights?

His question was provoked by an experience he had flying United Airlines between Chicago and Seattle, where he was voluntarily bumped three times before successfully boarding a flight. The reporter was thrilled to get three flight vouchers out of the ordeal but was curious if this was a common occurrence or a weird aberration.

In short, what happened to him certainly deviates from the norm. Even as airlines continue to slash routes into the fall, there is nothing about these capacity cuts that should drive more instances of denied boarding.

All airlines purposely overbook their flights to account for passengers who no show for whatever reason. As part of their standard revenue management practices, airlines use highly sophisticated models to predict overbooking levels, and they usually get it right. That said, the airlines are also operating at very high load factors right now, and we’ll continue to see full flights given the capacity cuts. In this respect, there is less margin for error.

When airlines do end up with more customers than they can accommodate, they ask for volunteers to take a later flight, offering them free flights or travel credits. But if they don’t get enough volunteers, they are allowed to involuntarily deny boarding, which does happen on occasion. That’s why it’s so important to check-in online and secure your seat assignment if you can, or arrive at the airport extra early to make sure you get a spot.

I’m a frequent flyer and have never, I repeat never, gotten bumped from a flight because it is too full. For this reporter to get bumped – voluntarily or not – three times in a single day is certainly a weird aberration. Or…is it the luck of the Irish? In this current travel environment, with fare hikes and added fees, three free tickets is gold!

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Looking for adventure through the aloha lens? The Hawaiian islands are the stuff of legends for a reason. By sea, by sky, and by tropical rainforest, Hawaii’s got you covered--with a pineapple twist. This past week in Hawaii I pushed my adrenaline meter to the limits with zodiac-rafting, zip-lining, and waterfall diving, and learned some very intriguing island facts along the way.

"The Screamer" zip-line course in the West Maui Mountains.

By Sea
First of all, did you know that some of the sands in Kauai can speak? I didn’t until our zodiac-raft skirted the waves past a gorgeous, nearly deserted, 17-mile stretch of beach on the way to the Na Pali Coast. Captain Manu, our knowledgeable guide with Kauai Sea Tours explained that this beach’s name is Barking Sands, because of the unique sounds the sand emits when you walk upon it.

Now if you’ve never been on a zodiac-raft, let me explain. Zodiacs are essentially big inflatable rafts with motors, and can reach autobahn-like speeds on the open seas. As a passenger, you and the onboard ropes must become very, very good friends—if you’re not holding on when a large wave lifts you up and then crashes you down, the surf could literally bump you right off the boat. Take the exhilaration of the ocean ride and the sheer drama of the Na Pali cliffs looming a half-mile above your head, and it’s truly an only-in-Hawaii kind of adventure.

But the part of the trip that will stay with me longest wasn’t even the adrenaline-rush of it all, the seabreeze in my hair, or the spinner dolphins who literally leaped around our little raft. Instead, it was a quieter moment when we landed at Nualolo Kai to explore the ruins of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village, where there was just something incredibly moving about the reverence our Hawaiian guides felt toward their land and sky and sea. The Kauai Sea Tours staff displayed an enthusiasm toward every crag in the rock, every hallowed path, every lonely monk seal, and every sacred tree--a love of and pride in Hawaii that was completely infectious.

By Sky
Larry from Kapalua Adventures is every bit the sun-blonde haole island adventure buff. He’s easy-going, very professional about safety, and somehow manages to make you feel totally sane for wanting to fly down the West Maui Mountains on a relatively new high-speed zip-line affectionately called, “The Screamer.” His favorite way to do “The Screamer”? Head all the way back hanging practically upside-down.

But get Larry talking about invasive-species like strawberry-guava (a fruit that tastes delicious but is choking out the native vegetation), get him telling the legend of a spurned Maui goddess who punished her betrayer by turning him into a gnarled and ugly tree, or listen to him riff on the living spirit of the mountains, and his true passion emerges. “Each morning,” he says, “the staff asks permission of the mountain to let us pass safely.”

As for the zip line, it’s an incredible combination of low-body-impact and high-mind-thrill. The setting was spectacular and peaceful, surrounded by birds and trees and with distant views of the ocean and nearby islands of Lanai and Molokai. If you’re not afraid of heights, this is truly a way to feel weightless and on top of the world.

By Tropical Rainforest
Zodiacs and zip-lines? Piece of cake. The adventure that made me break out into goosebumps was the one that sounded the most benign: waterfall-hiking with Hike Maui just off the famous Hana Road. No ropes involved. No harnesses. Just some bad-boy water shoes and a bunch of bravado.

Like the Olympic divers I’ve been watching on TV, we were going to jump off a staggering tower of rocks and into a deep, waterfall-fed pool, although there was nothing at all graceful about my approach. While a group of kids who were one-third my age jumped in with barely a scream, I got up to the top and froze. As one after another of our group jumped over the edge and came up laughing, I couldn’t seem to make myself jump. Finally, I went to a lower perch and took the plunge, with arms flailing everywhere. No doubt the most terrifying thing I’d done all trip, but no one else in my group seemed to share my fears, and I enjoyed watching them take the plunge, again and again, a little higher up every time.

Earlier, when I saw that my group included a number of text-messaging, iPod-listening teens I was a bit worried that the dose of Hawaiian culture I’d come to expect with my island adventures would be lost to the excitement of the swinging Tarzan vines, but by the end of the hike, even the most resistant among our crowd could enthusiastically spout off the 12 letters of the Hawaiian alphabet (do you know which ones they are?), explain why the part of the island we were visiting received more rain than anywhere else, identify passion fruit, and sing along with sweet-voiced Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Now that’s not your everyday waterfall hike.

Have you had a Hawaii adventure? Got any questions? Let me know!

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Forget the security lines at the airport, the delayed flights and the bad airline food. I have the habit of starting my travels off with an experience so bad that it makes these little annoyances look like a walk in the park; I live in San Francisco and take Super Shuttle to the airport.

My dread starts the moment I make that reservation. I always struggle with choosing my time slot. Will they pick me up earlier or later than requested? It’s always a crapshoot, and I always lose. Super Shuttle never arrives during that 15 minute window. Ever.

Take last week’s trip for instance. I had an 8 a.m. flight to JFK. Being one of those rare travelers who actually enjoys some downtime at the airport, I wanted to arrive by 6:30 a.m. so I could grab a bite to eat before my long flight and catch the morning news. This time, I bet on the shuttle being late, as they have been the past few times I had an early morning flight, so I scheduled the shuttle to pick me up between 5:25 – 5:40 a.m. In my online reservation notes, I even made the blatant request: PLEASE ARRIVE WITHIN THE PICK-UP WINDOW.

Proving yet again that Super Shuttle needs a customer service makeover, my cell phone rang at 5:18 a.m. with a voice message that said “Your driver estimates an arrival time of one minute.” Geez, thanks for the warning that you’ll be early. However, I expected this. After all, Super Shuttle never gets it right. Ever.

To make the early arrival worse, the driver proceeded to ring my doorbell after I wasn’t out the door the second he pulled up. I was completely irritated. After all, my roommate was still sleeping in this pre-sunlight hour. A suggestion for the future: I know you're just letting me know that you've arrived, but can you do that by calling my cell phone instead of ringing the bell?

When I open the door, I see a face that I recognize: Lead Foot. This is the crazy driver that took me to the airport just before Christmas and drove 80mph the entire way there. Lead Foot again played out his racecar driver dreams on the way to SFO, making me wish that I hadn’t paid the tip up front when I booked my reservation online. Needless to say, I was relieved when I finally arrived at the airport – nice and early thanks to Lead Foot and Super Shuttle, the “service” that never gets it right. Ever. But, what's a frugal travel to do? A $20 shuttle ride vs. a $55 cab ride saves a nice chunk of change. Who knows? Maybe Super Shuttle will read this and get it right next time.

Attention Readers!
I just wanted to let you know that my experience with Super Shuttle is limited to the service they provide in San Francisco, so be the savvy traveler that you are and do your homework to figure out what the best transportation option is in your area. Yelp is a good place to start.

Oh, and, for the record, my opinion is in no way the opinion of Travelocity. :-)

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Capacity cuts. Baggage fees. Price hikes. Fuel costs. More fees. Airline pleas. Are you lost yet? I, too, find the task of keeping up with the airline industry a grueling one. Whenever I fly, I safeguard my travels against added costs where I can: I always double check my carrier’s baggage fee policy; I make sure my carry-on conforms to the airline’s size restrictions; and I pack snacks, so I’m not tempted to purchase food while on board.

The overall sentiment toward the airline industry right now is one of negativity, but every airline offers an experience (good or bad) that’s slightly different than the next. From baggage fees to in-flight entertainment, get the scoop on what to expect before you fly.

*Note: Baggage fees may vary depending on when you purchased your ticket. See complete baggage policies for details on fees, carry-on policies and size restrictions.

American Airlines

Baggage Fees: $15 each way for first checked bag; $25 each way for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy.
Snacks: A choice of sweet and salty individually-packaged snacks is available for purchase on flights that are two hours or longer. In addition, fresh light meals are offered on flights three hours or longer. (From $3-$10)
Entertainment: Music, movies and onboard reading material available.
Business Tools: On most aircraft, a power outlet is available at each seat in First and Business class, as well as selected rows in the Coach cabin. Worldwide satellite communications are available on American Airlines' Boeing 777 and Boeing 767 aircraft Coming Soon: The first aircraft installation of the Aircell® Internet broadband connectivity solution, Gogo, has been completed and will be available in the near future.

Continental Airlines

Baggage Fees: No fee for the first checked bag; $25 each way for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy.
Snacks: In general, meals or snacks are served in First Class on flights over 1 1/2 hours and in Economy Class on flights over two hours that fall within standard mealtimes.
Entertainment: Feature films and music free when using your own headset. Video games also available on select flights.
Business Tools: ARINC Satellite Telephone and in-seat power ports available.

Delta Airlines

Baggage Fees: No fee for the first checked bag; $25 each way for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy and fees. Note: Passengers who purchased a ticket before April 9, 2008 may be eligible for a rebate.
Snacks: Purchase snacks from the EATS menu from $1-$10.
Entertainment: In-flight movie, TV, radio programs and onboard shopping available on select flights.
Business Tools: 110 Volt ports, USB ports and EmPower ports available in select classes on select flights.

Northwest Airlines

Baggage Fees: $15 for the first checked bag; $25 for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy.
Snacks: Snack items, snack boxes, fresh fruit and cheese platters or vegetables platter along with sandwich and salad meals are available for purchase on board many flights. Prices range from $3-$10.
Entertainment: Movies, magazines and duty free shopping available.

United Airlines

Baggage Fees: $15 for the first checked bag; $25 for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy.
Snacks: Fresh food options are available for $7 and snack boxes are available for $5 on select flights.
Entertainment: Feature films, TV programming, and XM audio programming is available free-of-charge, along with complimentary headsets.
Business Tools: Laptop power and satellite phone service is available on select flights.

US Airways

Baggage Fees: $15 for the first checked bag; $25 for the second checked bag. See complete baggage policy.
Snacks: You can buy items from the In-flight Café menu for $7 or snack boxes for $5 on select flights. After August 1, 2008, non-alcoholic beverages will cost $2 and alcoholic beverages will cost $7 (up from $5).
Entertainment: Select flights feature movies and television programming, travel trivia, magazines and audio programming. Headsets are $5. Note: US Airways plans to remove in-flight movie systems.
Business Tools: US Airways offers on-board telephones and laptop power ports on select flights.

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Posted in Air Travel, Airline Fees, Guides & Planning
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Aloha from the Hawaiian islands! I am writing live from the Hawaii Superferry on my way between the islands of Maui and Oahu. To my right, I see the open Pacific Ocean, and to my left lies the green mass of Molokai. So far, on this trip, I have visited both the islands of Kauai and Maui and have done everything from zodiac-boating along the dramatic Na Pali coast and zip-lining down the West Maui Mountains to indulging in luxuriant lomi lomi massage treatments and swimming beside rainforest waterfalls.

Along the way, I've been learning a great deal about Hawaii's history and culture from the first Polynesian arrivals to the missionary days. I've eaten strawberry-guava straight off the tree, rubbed noni fruit juice into my sunburn, and squeezed fresh awapuhi into my hair in an attempt to see first-hand the island's healing and restorative powers. I've also spoken with many people about what the island is doing to protect its treasures, from saving the coral reefs to safe-guarding the monk seals and sea turtles.

In blog posts to come, I'll fill you in on the details of my adventures. Wish you were here -- the weather is fine!

Photo coutesy of IgoUgo member creekland.

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Posted in Hawaii
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Sometimes working for a travel company is hard on your friendships. I know, I know. Somewhere the world’s smallest violin is playing a tune that can only be heard by dogs. But really, not a happy hour goes by without someone asking me the age-old question: Can you hook me up?

And now that the cost of travel is skyrocketing, I’m getting this question more and more. I used to tell my friends that I couldn’t help them out, but now I send them to the Insider’s Guide to Booking Cheap Travel. In addition to linking to Genevieve’s great blog about how to save $500 on your next vacation, it also teaches you how to work the system to your advantage. Knowing how to find the lowest fares is half the battle.

Think you’re already an expert at finding travel deals? Here’s a quick quiz I give my friends to test their knowledge.

1) What’s the first thing you should do once you’ve decided on a destination?

Most sites now have free widgets and tools that track fares to your favorite locales. Before you even decide on the dates of your trip, plug your destination into a fare-tracking tool. You'll receive email alerts when the prices drop.

2) True or false: You can find the lowest car rental rates by searching from the main car page of any travel website.

False. On many travel websites, you must search for special, limited-time car rental offers from a top deals page. Once you find a deal that works for your trip, you typically must book from the special deal page to get that rate.

3) True or false: Cruises cost $1,000 less on average than a land-based vacation.

True. When you package your travel together, the savings begin to ring up. Cruises offer an incredible vacation value--particularly if you can drive to one of the more than 20 U.S. departure ports and skip the expensive flight.

4) How do you research the cheapest days to stay at a particular hotel?

Customers don’t realize that you don’t have to fill in dates for hotel searches on most travel websites. Just leave the date fields blank and usually a flexible calendar will appear, showing you when to book for less.

5) True or false: When booking a Hotel + Car package, you can only rent a car in your hometown.

False. When planning a road trip, save big by bundling your hotel and car together. Normally it doesn’t matter if you need to pick up your car in your hometown or in your destination.

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Posted in Budget Travel
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There are certain things about plane travel that nobody likes: delays, baggage surcharges, drooling on yourself when you’ve fallen asleep in the upright and locked position. That’s fine, I can relate. However, why does everyone freak out about their laptops? The TSA has released a whole new set of regulations for laptop bags, describing which are OK, and listing manufacturers who make cases and bags that pass muster at the x-ray machine. I can appreciate the attempts to speed up security lines by not requiring the removal of laptops from cases, but really, why does everyone need their laptop so badly? I have a laptop that sometimes comes with me on trips but, really, unless I’m traveling for work, I don’t lug it.

There are a few reasons why I assume travelers bring laptops:
1) Work
2) Entertainment
   a. Books are heavy
3) Music
4) Writing

My thoughts:
1) We just discussed this.
2) Try reading
   a. Try paperbacks, don’t read Shogun on vacation, and just forget about your aspirations to read Atlas Shrugged.
3) If you don’t have an iPod, you shouldn’t have a laptop.
4) Pen and paper still work. I use Parker’s push-top Jotter.

So what, then, is everyone’s deal with needing specialty laptop bags? Also, if you are traveling for work and need your computer so badly, make it accessible and have it out way ahead of time. When I feel compelled to travel with my PowerBook, I put it in a Built sleeve and slide it into my carry-on next to and books or papers or folders so that it slides out pretty easily when I step up to the machine.

Of course, the problem with taking your laptop out of your bag arises when you’ve got your shoes in one hand and your pants in the other because you’ve had to take your belt off, too. To be honest, I’m excited about the concept of Shoe Scanners at airports and even the millimeter wave technology that I brought up in a previous post. Of course, I’m excited for the first time something really strange is found on someone’s person. Also, since security is ultimately what’s driving this whole laptop-checking craze—and since laptops were the intial topic of this post—how can there still be such major gaffes at airports?

If you are a die-hard laptop-lugger, please enlighten me.

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Posted in Air Travel, Business Travel, Packing & Baggage, Travel News
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Just saw a piece from Aviation (via MSNBC.com) that list the various airline policies for dealing with overweight passengers. Some, like Southwest, have clear policies in place while others, like United, have no policy at all. Most airlines fall somewhere in the middle with hard-to-enforce informal policies.

I am really curious to know what you all think about this topic and what YOU think the airlines should to accommodate overweight passengers (or not accommodate as the case may be). I am aware of the sensitive nature of this topic but think it is a valid one, especially considering that having an empty seat next to you seems to be, for the most part, a thing of the past.

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Posted in Air Travel
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I don’t think I’m particularly vain—I clogged across three continents in Crocs, for goodness’ sake—but I really hope I look a little different in everyday life than I did when I was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. You know, just...not dirty?

Maybe, though, the difference between mountain me and city me isn’t as apparent as I would hope. The other night I—wearing a dress, heels, and jewelry—met up with some friends who’d hiked the mountain with me, and we found ourselves in need of a corkscrew. “It’s okay,” one of them said, “Michelle has one on her Swiss Army knife.” I had to explain that I do not, in regular life, hook a Swiss Army knife onto a carabiner and attach it to a daypack before setting off to dinner. And, I added, not only was I not carrying a daypack et al, I didn’t even have pockets, let alone giant stow pockets in which to stuff gadgets.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member 80 Ways Tim

Anyway, ever since this incident, I’ve been thinking about how I miss the constant convenience of that darn Swiss Army knife. I also miss my headlamp, which I insisted on wearing the entire time I was in Africa, even when it wasn’t really appropriate anymore and I got weird stares at campsites. In fact, I realized that whenever I’m not traveling, I miss my gear; my travel alarm clock is much cooler than my regular one (all those time zones!), and even my travel hairdryer is better (swear I’m not vain). There are tons of times in “normal” life that I wish I had my camera, binoculars, or money belt on me, but of course, I don’t carry those things when I have errands to run or meetings to attend. I’m not a serious gadget freak, but it would be nice to have some of the comforts of travel at home.

It’s not quite home, but I was excited nonetheless to see Best Buy’s announcement that it will sell gadgets in some airports’ vending machines under the name Best Buy Express. I think it’s a great concept—especially because I usually like Best Buy prices—and I'd love to see these succeed and appear at more airports in the future. Of course, considering how annoying it is when you pay for pretzels and they’re not dispensed, things could get ugly if someone’s new headphones get stuck.

Since travel gear has been on my mind (and in my pockets—when I have them) so often lately, I would love to k