The rise of the insincere travel offer – and what to do about it

from Elliott http://elliott.org/blog/bogus-travel-deals-expired-miles-leave-travelers-fuming/

The Bend at The Hills

Getting that “Sunburst” Don’t forget that you can get this kind of a sunburst if you set your camera to f/16 or higher. I find f/16 is usually good enough. You can go higher, but then you risk seeing more of the dust and junk on your sensor, which I always find annoying to fix […]



from Stuck in Customs http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2014/10/04/the-bend-at-the-hills/

20 signs you're from Italy

#11: You'll have pasta at least 4 times a week. But if your mum cooks the same pasta more than once in the same week, obviously she is not well.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/20-signs-born-raised-italy/

New Link Found for 90,000 Mile Bonus Virgin Atlantic Card

A little over a month ago an offer came out promising up to 90,000 miles for the Virgin Atlantic co-brand credit card. Now, these are Virgin Atlantic miles which aren’t the most valuable. And the offer required a whole bunch of spend. So it’s wasn’t the greatest card offer out there. In fact, I view […]

The post New Link Found for 90,000 Mile Bonus Virgin Atlantic Card appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/new-link-found-90000-mile-bonus-virgin-atlantic-card/

Update: Ebola and Travel

Answers to questions about what is being done to prevent those infected with the Ebola virus from flying to the United States.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3f1afb55/sc/1/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C10A0C0A40Ctravel0Cebola0Eand0Etravel0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

6 Discoveries from Near and Far: Volume XII

Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter.



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/6-discoveries-from-near-and-far-volume-xii/

MIleage-earning Opportunity Begins to Slam Shut, Plus Crabs on a Plane and Donating to US Customs

News and notes from around the interweb: US Customs and Border Patrol accepts donations. (I’d definitely rather tip housekeeping at Marriotts) A US Airways flight was delayed because a box of live crabs spilled out in the cargo hold during flight. Some Chase cards treating online Serve reloads as cash advances. They’re not wrong… The […]

The post MIleage-earning Opportunity Begins to Slam Shut, Plus Crabs on a Plane and Donating to US Customs appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/mileage-earning-opportunity-begins-slam-shut-plus-crabs-plane-donating-us-customs/

Frugal Guide to Kauai

I realize we’ve been going pretty far away with the Frugal Guides lately and neglecting a destination our readers are most interested in: Hawaii. Sure, I covered Maui last year, but with Hawaii being on everyone’s bucket list, it’s time to cover Rick’s favorite Island: Kauai. Here are six tips on how to save on […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/10/frugal-guide-to-kauai.html

A Ban On Air Travel From Ebola-Stricken Countries Would Backfire, Experts Say

Public health experts agree that restricting flights from West Africa would not help contain the Ebola epidemic.



from Travel Feedly http://www.ibtimes.com/ban-air-travel-ebola-stricken-countries-would-backfire-experts-say-1699307

The 12 best Airbnbs in Paris

We’ve compiled a list of some of Paris's best apartments, lofts, and houses in all of its trendy, historic neighborhoods.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/12-best-airbnbs-paris/

ArtsBeat: International Arts Events Happening in the Week Ahead

A slideshow of arts events taking place across the world this coming week.





from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3f19a072/sc/38/l/0Lartsbeat0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C10A0C0A30Cinternational0Earts0Eevents0Ehappening0Ein0Ethe0Eweek0Eahead0E110C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Escaped crustaceans delay flight

Passengers on a delayed flight at New York's LaGuardia Airport were understandably a bit crabby for a while Thursday evening -- and it wasn't because of the weather or a maintenance issue.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/travel/new-york-flight-crabs/index.html

And the world's best building is...

The world's largest architecture festival has concluded with the presentation of a range of glittering awards in Singapore

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/travel/world-architecture-festival-2014/index.html

I Heart My National Park: Joshua Tree

Jeff Ohlfs began his love affair with Joshua Tree National Park a quarter of a century ago. The chief ranger of the park, Ohlfs has seen more of Joshua Tree than any other person posted there. "I remember believing I could never work in a desert park," says the national park service veteran. "Now, two decades later, I cannot pull myself away from it. For me, it is home." Here's his insider's guide to one of the premier jewels of the Southern California desert.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/10/03/i-heart-my-national-park-joshua-tree/

70,000 Point Bonus for Chase Ink Plus Ending Soon, Act Quickly

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 70,000 Point Bonus for Chase Ink Plus Ending Soon, Act Quickly appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/70000-point-bonus-chase-ink-plus-ending-soon-act-quickly/

How Breaking Bad analogies can land you a travel filmmaking gig

I AM NOT GOING TO LIE, I wasn’t overly excited about my latest job prospect of traditional balsamic vinegar making in Modena, Italy. I love balsamic in all its drizzled goodness, but it just seemed rather tame compared to some of my more recent job exploits overseas – tigers, elephants, and tuk-tuk racing filming. But […]



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/breaking-bad-analogies-can-land-travel-filmmaking-gig/

Savannah, Both Sides

Beneath its trademark Southern charm is a city with stories of slavery and civil rights struggles.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3f1970f3/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C10A0C0A50Ctravel0Csavannah0Eboth0Esides0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Redeeming British Airways Avios On Alaska Airlines

For the longest time, Alaska Airlines was the strangest airline to me. I hadn't actually flown them until 2012, when I status matched to MVP Gold after I moved from Tampa to Seattle.

When I moved to Seattle it was the start of the rainy season, and I'd often find any excuse I could to escape the depressing weather. I'm not the world's best planner, so I'd rarely take advantage of any cheap advance purchase fares, but that didn't mean I wanted to pay for expensive last minute tickets either. Alaska is relatively good about releasing award space even close to departure, which made weekend jaunts possible.

While British Airways is a member of the oneworld alliance, they do separately partner with Alaska Airlines, and their distanced based award chart leads to some especially lucrative award redemptions. The unfortunate part is that British Airways prices first class redemptions on Alaska at the first class award price, which is three times the cost of an equivalent economy award.

The post Redeeming British Airways Avios On Alaska Airlines appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/redeeming-avios-alaska-airlines/

Marriott fined $600,000 for blocking guests' Wi-Fi

Think your hotel is deliberately blocking your personal Wi-Fi networks so you'll buy theirs?

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/travel/marriott-fcc-wi-fi-fine/index.html

A part of NYC that you have never seen

Anthony Bourdain discovers the coolest area of NYC. Tune in to Parts Unknown Sunday 9pm EST.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/living/2014/10/02/here-and-there-anthony-bourdain-bronx-ts-orig.cnn.html

In Transit Blog: A New Culture-Focused Tour of Haiti

G Adventures, a small-group travel company, is offering a 10-day trip to Haiti with an emphasis on art and culture.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3f1845ee/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C10A0C0A30Ca0Enew0Eculture0Efocused0Etour0Eof0Ehaiti0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Are Airlines Becoming Less Dependent On — and Even Giving the Finger to – Their Bank Partners?

When economic times were tough for the airlines, really from 2001 through 2011-2012 or thereabouts, the airlines relied on the banks and the sale of miles to keep them going. There’s long been speculation about the spinoff of frequent flyer programs like United MileagePlus (which had long ago been formed as a separate entity, UAL […]

The post Are Airlines Becoming Less Dependent On — and Even Giving the Finger to – Their Bank Partners? appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/airlines-becoming-less-dependent-even-giving-finger-bank-partners/

12 signs your girlfriend is Mexican

You're constantly pressured to join the Telenovela fandom. There is a cancer in Mexican society and it is called Telenovela.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/nights/12-signs-girlfriend-mexican/

Uluru National Park, Australia

from Everything Everywhere Travel Blog http://everything-everywhere.com/2014/10/02/uluru-national-park-australia-2/

Introduction: Mileage Running To Hong Kong

Last October, American Airlines announced a new nonstop daily flight between Dallas and Hong Kong, which launched this June. This route was incredibly exciting to me on many levels:

-- Hong Kong is possibly my favorite city in the world

-- It’s operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, which features American’s new first and business class products, making it the only route to Asia where that’s the case

-- I love being an Executive Platinum with American since I get eight systemwide upgrades just for achieving the status, and there’s no better use of those than American’s longest route

The post Introduction: Mileage Running To Hong Kong appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/introduction-mileage-running-hong-kong/

8 Third World travel experiences

Suddenly the immense wealth of the First World is blatantly apparent everywhere you look, and you remember that everyone you know lives like a king without realizing it.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/8-things-first-worlder-can-expect-trip-third-world-country/

Contest Roundup: Adventure Treks, Mexico City, Canada, France

Check out the week in travel contests and sweepstakes for your chance to win a trip to Mexico, an adventure trip to either Costa Rica, Machu Picchu, Mont Blanc or Thailand, a cruise through Canada, a chance to see Oprah in Miami or a gastronomic vacation to France. Win a Trip to Mexico City from […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/10/contest-roundup-adventure-treks-mexico-city-canada-france/

Cultured Traveler: In Venice, Navigating Like a Native

What does it take to be a gondolier?

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3f170e91/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C10A0C0A50Ctravel0Cin0Evenice0Enavigating0Elike0Ea0Enative0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Easy IHG Rewards Club Free Nights Via Best Rate Guarantee: No Must Claim More Than 24 Hours Out

Last month I wrote a guide to getting free one-night stays at IHG Rewards Club properrties. No points required. IHG Rewards Club (the program for Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and related brands) will give you the first night of your stay for free if you make a successful best rate guarantee claim. If you […]

The post Easy IHG Rewards Club Free Nights Via Best Rate Guarantee: No Must Claim More Than 24 Hours Out appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/easy-ihg-rewards-club-free-nights-via-best-rate-guarantee-must-claim-24-hours/

Malaysia Airlines Offers Travel Agents Rolex Watches

There's no doubt Malaysia Airlines has had a terrible year, and I feel horribly for all of their employees (and of course the families of those on MH370 and MH17). Malaysia Airlines wasn't doing well financially even prior to these tragedies, and things have only gotten worse since then.

They're about to lay off thousands of employees, and even so, it's still uncertain how they'll be able to survive.

Malaysia Airlines has been running quite a few campaigns to improve their image and get passengers flying with them again. For example, about a month ago they ran a "Bucket List" contest, which ended up backfiring a bit.

But it seems that Malaysia Airlines isn't just trying to lure customers, but also travel agents. Via WatchReport:

The post Malaysia Airlines Offers Travel Agents Rolex Watches appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/03/malaysia-airlines-offers-travel-agents-rolex-watches/

Best U.S. towns for fall colors

These are our favorite 10 towns for fall foliage from Arizona to Vermont. Can you guess which town is #1?

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/travel/best-towns-fall-colors/index.html