How do you pack smarter for your next trip?

from Elliott http://elliott.org/live-2/pack-smarter-next-trip/

#NGTRadar: Travel Lately

The Radar—the latest and best from the travel blogosphere—is a regular feature on Intelligent Travel every other Wednesday. You can play, too. Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTravel and tag your favorite travel stories #NGTRadar to help us find the crème de la crème on the Web. Here are our newest picks.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/20/ngtradar-travel-lately-34/

Nobody But Yourself

“To be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” -ee cummings



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/nobody-but-yourself/

PressPlay raises $500k in novel bid for on-seat entertainment

New Delhi-based PressPlay Entertainment has raised a $500k angel round to expand its novel approach to in-seat entertainment for travelers in the ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/pressplay-raises-500k-novel-bid-seat-entertainment-travel/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pressplay-raises-500k-novel-bid-seat-entertainment-travel

Out of the Ashes: Valparaíso

Though just 70 miles south of Chile's capital, Santiago, Valparaíso is a destination in its own right. The port city's economy may not be what it was, but the vibrant culture you'll find there remains, despite a flagging maritime trade and earthquakes that have shaken it to its core. As the city and its people rebuild and heal after a catastrophic fire claimed homes and lives, there has never been a better time to visit. Here's why.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/20/out-of-the-ashes-valparaiso/

InterContinental Royal Ambassador Qualification Requirements

InterContinental Royal Ambassador used to be one of my favorite top tier status levels. It was invitation only, and what I thought they did so well was offer a lot of guaranteed benefits. As a Royal Ambassador member you'd receive guaranteed 8AM check-in and 4PM check-out, guaranteed upgrades, complimentary beverages from the minibar, etc.

My biggest frustration was that they didn't publish qualification requirements for Royal Ambassador status, and I wasn't prepared to spend 50-60 nights in a hotel chain, only to potentially not requalify. Fortunately back in the day there wasn't really a need to qualify the "hard way," given that they offered Royal Ambassador referral certificates. Royal Ambassador members could nominate someone else to Royal Ambassador status, and going back several years even referred Royal Ambassador members received referral certificates, so there was an almost never ending chain of Royal Ambassadors. Those certificates have been eliminated in the meantime.

The post InterContinental Royal Ambassador Qualification Requirements appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/08/20/intercontinental-royal-ambassador-qualification-requirements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=intercontinental-royal-ambassador-qualification-requirements

40 storybook towns in Europe

European charm almost like it was when Wordsworth and the Romantics first popularized vagabonding the Continent.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/40-last-storybook-towns-left-europe/

Heads Up: Adding Celebrity Sizzle to a London Neighborhood

The Chiltern Firehouse, a new hotel, is drawing boldfaced names and bringing a new buzz to Marylebone.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3db0c434/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C240Ctravel0Cadding0Ecelebrity0Esizzle0Eto0Ea0Elondon0Eneighborhood0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

The Most Lucrative Hotel Elite Status Now Has Published Criteria

Intercontinental’s Royal Ambassador elite level is in some ways the best elite status of any hotel program. It’s also one of the most vexing. The positives are remarkable. On top of the usual elite level benefits one finds with the major chains, they offer: Guaranteed 8am check-in, not just 4pm late checkout Complimentary free drinks […]

The post The Most Lucrative Hotel Elite Status Now Has Published Criteria appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/08/20/intercontinental-royal-ambassador-qualification-criteria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=intercontinental-royal-ambassador-qualification-criteria

In Transit Blog: At California Resort, Bees Are a Plus

Carmel Valley Ranch in California will offer several bee-related programs during National Honey Month.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3db0e22e/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C20A0Cat0Ecalifornia0Eresort0Ebees0Eare0Ea0Eplus0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

36 Hours in Glasgow

Whether you’re looking for art or music, shops or nature, a cup of tea or a dram of whisky, you can find it during a weekend in this city in western Scotland.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3db0e22a/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C240Ctravel0C360Ehours0Ein0Eglasgow0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Study: At upscale hotels, guest acquisition costs are devouring room revenue growth

Guest acquisition costs are escalating at the same clip as room revenue growth, according to a new, multi-year study of upscale and ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/major-study-hotel-spending-guest-acquisition-outpacing-revenue-growth/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=major-study-hotel-spending-guest-acquisition-outpacing-revenue-growth

On the VONA travel writing workshop

What if we—the 'noble savages'—were recognized as the experts of our homelands, of ourselves?



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/telling-like-time-travel-writing-workshop-people-color/

Google tests new hotel search, pushes Hotel Price Ads to second click

Google has been testing an evolved hotel search layout, leaning more on its mobile layout for hotel search on the original desktop ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/google-tests-new-hotel-search-pushes-hotel-price-ads-second-click/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-tests-new-hotel-search-pushes-hotel-price-ads-second-click

Good Time To Take Advantage Of Marriott 70K Increased Sign-Up Bonus

I've written in the past about the increased sign-up bonus on Marriott's co-branded Chase Visa Card.

For a limited time Chase is offering 70,000 Marriott Rewards points after spending $2,000 in the first three months, plus one free night stay at a Category 1-4 property after account approval. A free night at a Category 4 property goes for 20,000 points, so the sign-up bonus can be worth up to 90,000 points.

The $85 annual fee is even waived the first year.

Anyway, I have reason to believe that this offer will be changing very soon, so if you'd like to take advantage of it, I'd highly recommend applying today.

The post Good Time To Take Advantage Of Marriott 70K Increased Sign-Up Bonus appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/08/20/good-time-take-advantage-marriott-70k-increased-sign-bonus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=good-time-take-advantage-marriott-70k-increased-sign-bonus