March 16, 2015

Some Airlines Shouldn’t Bother With First Class

No, I'm not even talking about American, which has a fantastic business class product on their 777-300ER, but only ever-so-marginally better first class product.


Instead I'm talking about Kuwait Airways.


As many of you probably know, I'm seriously considering booking Kuwait Airways home from Colombo in a few weeks, which is something I've been wanting to do for a while.


Kuwait Airways' business class is horrible. It's so bad that they don't even advertise it on their website. But you know what's truly mind-blowing? They also have a first class product throughout most of their fleet.


The post Some Airlines Shouldn’t Bother With First Class appeared first on One Mile at a Time.






from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/03/16/some-airlines-shouldnt-bother-with-first-class/

How to Use Points for Luxury Hotels That Aren’t Part of Loyalty Programs

I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, […]


The post How to Use Points for Luxury Hotels That Aren’t Part of Loyalty Programs appeared first on View from the Wing.






from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/03/16/how-to-use-points-for-luxury-hotels-that-arent-part-of-loyalty-programs/

How to parent like an Argentine

"Get ‘em hooked young on mate and red wine." ...thinking we can handle this whole Argentine parenting thing.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/parent-like-argentine/

Best Western Customer Appreciation Week: 1,000 Bonus Points For A Stay

Next week is Best Western's 15th annual Customer Appreciation Week.


To celebrate, they're offering 1,000 bonus points to Best Western Rewards members that stay between March 23 and March 27, 2015. Registration is required for the one-time bonus, which will post up to six weeks after the qualifying stay. Here are the full terms & conditions.


Maybe it's just me, but I kind of feel like offering 1,000 bonus points over a four day period doesn't really show that much appreciation of customers for a 15 year milestone. ;) At least not compared to Club Carlson, which is basically paying you to stay at their hotels at this point.


The post Best Western Customer Appreciation Week: 1,000 Bonus Points For A Stay appeared first on One Mile at a Time.






from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/03/16/best-western-customer-appreciation-week-1000-bonus-points-for-a-stay/

The Magic Button of Good Design

At least once a week I receive questions about the design process behind the self-published work I’ve made, in particular the three manifestos I offered a few years ago. "What software do you use?" people want to know. In other words, how do I “make them look good”? I'm no designer, but as a writer I appreciate the value of imagery and structure that works in harmony with words. I also know that there’s no big secret to it, nor is there a shortcut.



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/the-magic-button-of-good-design/

Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb in New Orleans, Louisiana

Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb


Acclaimed, derided, and meme'd actor Nicolas Cage has long been known for his eccentric behavior both in front of the camera and in the real world. Cage looks to continue this legacy into death as well thanks to the odd pyramid mausoleum he purchased in a famed New Orleans graveyard. Although the locals don't seem to be as impressed by his curious behavior.


Cage has a history with the city of New Orleans, having purchased both the infamously haunted LaLaurie Mansion and the historic Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel. Both properties were foreclosed on in 2009 after a tax debacle. Subsequently, Cage purchased his unnamed tomb in the city's beloved St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, home to the grave of another of New Orleans' supernatural heavies, Marie Laveau.


The empty grave is a stark, nine-foot-tall stone pyramid that stands in obvious contrast to the blockier, above-ground burial sites that have been crumbling away in the cemetery for over two centuries. There is no name on the pyramid yet, but it is emblazoned with the Latin maxim, "Omni Ab Uno," which translates to "Everything from one." As ever, the actor himself has chosen to remain silent about his reasoning for the flamboyant tomb, but given that there are countless pyramid tombs in cemeteries across the world, it may have simply been a stylistic choice.


Whatever his reasons, the Cage pyramid has already become an iconic part of the cemetery, much to the chagrin of many New Orleans locals who are furious that he was able to obtain a plot in the cramped graveyard. Many have even accused the tomb of damaging or removing other, centuries-old burials to make room. Yet despite public outcry, the pyramid stands.


New Orleans may not like Nic Cage, but it's clear that he likes New Orleans.




















from Atlas Obscura http://atlasobscura.com.feedsportal.com/c/35387/f/665719/s/4471792b/sc/10/l/0L0Satlasobscura0N0Cplaces0Cnicolas0Ecage0Es0Epyramid0Etomb/story01.htm

eLong worried by competitors and owners alike

eLong has described in more detail the “hyper-competitive Chinese market” while outlining some risks relating to Expedia’s controlling interest. It has filed ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/eLong-Expedia/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=elong-worried-by-competitors-and-owners-alike

5 helpful vids for learning Mandarin

Check out these five awesome (and free!) Mandarin-learning videos on YouTube.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/5-helpful-vids-learning-mandarin/

How I Got Kicked Out Of Romania

Wandering Earl


“Peace, I’m out.” That’s exactly what I yelled…okay, maybe I just mumbled it to myself…fine, I only said it in my head…but regardless, it was said as I left Bucharest last week, right after I discovered that my residency visa … Read more






from Wandering Earl http://www.wanderingearl.com/kicked-out-of-romania-residency-visa-refused/

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Obsessively (Part 1): The Gear

Join Vagabondish on Twitter and Facebook.


Free martinis, fold-flat massage seats, and champagne bubble baths at the hotel might be the norm for Warren Buffett and the 1%-ers. But the rest of us are lucky to survive our trips without strangling a flight attendant. With pay-toilets on the airplane, $30-a-day hotel Wi-Fi, and this lady at the check-in counter … these […]


The post The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Obsessively (Part 1): The Gear appeared first on Vagabondish.






from Vagabondish http://www.vagabondish.com/ultimate-guide-to-traveling-obsessively-1/

Review: Westin Arlington (Best Value in the DC Area on Weekends)

The hotel opened in spring 2006. The hotel is in the DC suburbs — but located just two blocks to the Ballston metro, Orange line straight shot into the city. It pulls high rates during the week, it’s a business hotel that brings people visiting the FDIC, the EPA’s Fish and WIldlife Service, and DARPA […]


The post Review: Westin Arlington (Best Value in the DC Area on Weekends) appeared first on View from the Wing.






from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/03/16/review-westin-arlington-best-value-in-the-dc-area-on-weekends/

20 surprising truths about Nevada

Sorry California. Most United States gold actually comes from Nevada.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/20-truths-nevada-never-guessed/

Net Affinity grabs $1 million investment round

Hotel technology and marketing service Net Affinity has secured a $1 million funding round. The investment has come from a combination of ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/net-affinity-1-million-round/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=net-affinity-grabs-1-million-investment-round

Maputo's billion dollar makeover

Two decades ago Maputo was a rundown wreck. Now it's gearing up for a tourist takeover as the oil billions pour in.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/16/travel/mozambique-maputo-boomtown/index.html

Is Qantas giving out free first-class tickets? Nope, sorry

Over 130,000 people were fooled by a fake Qantas Facebook campaign.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/16/travel/qantas-fake-free-first-class-tickets/index.html