Trunkster Zipperless Luggage — Thoughts?

Last month I posted about Bluesmart, the world's first (self proclaimed) "smart" luggage. What made it so "smart?" It came with a digitally controlled lock, location tracking, trip data tracking, a battery charger, built-in scale, etc.

They went the route of crowd sourcing to fund the idea, and did remarkably well -- their goal was to raise $50,000, though they raised over a million dollars. Yow!

Call me a traditional, if you'd like, but I just don't "get it." Location tracking and trip data tracking? Why would I need that for my carry-on? And while a battery charger and built-in scale sound nice in theory, presumably they also add weight to a carry-on, and for me one of the most important things about a carry-on is that it's lightweight. But clearly a lot of people disagree with me.

Well, it looks like the "smart" luggage industry is quickly expanding, as a new bag called Trunkster is in development. Here's a video about it:

The post Trunkster Zipperless Luggage — Thoughts? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/21/trunkster-zipperless-luggage-thoughts/

Why travel Muslim countries?

While traveling Muslim countries, author Jeremy Ullmann encountered hospitality beyond anything he's experienced in his native UK. Now, he's here to tell you why more westerners should put Muslim countries on their travel radar.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/westerners-travel-muslim-countries/

In Transit Blog: In New York, an Haute Cocoa Cart

The chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will open a Cocoa Kiosk at the Mark Hotel in New York City featuring his grandmother’s recipe.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/40b55cab/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C110C210Cin0Enew0Eyork0Ean0Ehaute0Ecocoa0Ecart0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

American Express Introduces Hotel Booking Site Giving Upgrades and $75 Room Credit

American Express has long offered upscale and luxury hotels through their Fine Hotels and Resorts program — booking through them gets you benefits like a room upgrade if available, late checkout, breakfast, and another benefit like a meal or spa credit. This is offered to Platinum and to Centurion cardmembers (the Centurion version usually comes […]

The post American Express Introduces Hotel Booking Site Giving Upgrades and $75 Room Credit appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/11/21/american-express-introduces-hotel-booking-site-giving-upgrades-75-room-credit/

8 memories of growing up in Philly

"You could tell it was summer in Philly by the buzz in the streets. Kids of every age were suddenly everywhere, popping fireplugs -- sometimes with the help of the fire department! -- splashing around in the giant fountains on the parkway, and crashing 4-ft pools to make vortexes in their vacationing neighbors’ fenced-in yards."



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/8-memories-growing-philadelphia/

Does Buying Virgin America Points Make Sense?

Virgin America is once again offering a promotion whereby you can earn a bonus on the purchase of Elevate points. The promotion isn't quite as generous as the 80% bonus they offered in October, though you have through December 12, 2014, to purchase Elevate points with a 70% bonus.

Virgin America Elevate points ordinarily cost 5.2 cents each to purchase, so through this promotion Virgin America Elevate points can be purchased for ~3.06 cents each. You can purchase up to 20,000 points per account per calendar year, before factoring in the 70% bonus (meaning you can purchase a maximum of 34,000 points through this promotion).

The post Does Buying Virgin America Points Make Sense? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/11/21/buying-virgin-america-points-make-sense/

THack Barcelona – the ultimate quick-fire hack

When you lock a bunch of creative people in a room for a day, it’s difficult to predict what might come out ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/thack-barcelona/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thack-barcelona

Becoming culturally Australian

"Not only do you eat vegemite on toast, but you understand the delicate art of spreading it on just thick enough to taste it, but not so thick that you gag." Been Down Under awhile? You too could be turning culturally Australian.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/11-ways-know-youve-become-culturally-australian/

Retro sand safari: Doing Dubai's deserts in style

Luxury vintage Land Rover tours explore Bedouin backwaters without bashing up precious dunes.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/travel/dubai-desert-safari/index.html

You're flying with NASA and you don't even know it

A new wing technology may join a list of NASA innovations that have made air travel safer and more convenient.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/20/travel/nasa-social-airline-innovations/index.html

Vineyard in the McLaren Vale of South Australia

from Everything Everywhere Travel Blog http://everything-everywhere.com/2014/11/20/vineyard-mclaren-vale-south-australia/

14 signs you're culturally Cambodian

You don't think it's appropriate to kiss your family members or loved ones. Instead, you hug them and sniff them.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/14-signs-youve-brought-cambodian-culture-home/

50 things to do before you die

Have you spent 24 hours alone in the jungle? Have you bathed in the Ganges? Check out some of our suggested updates to your bucket list.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/50-things-to-do-before-you-die/

Park Lane Sheraton and Other Frugal Options in London

When my husband and I planned our trip to London this fall, we hoped to use up some of the Starwood Preferred Guest points we’ve acquired with our Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card. Fortunately, SPG has a ton of hotels to choose from in London, including a few in popular neighborhoods like Knightsbridge, Picadilly […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/11/park-lane-sheraton-a-frugal-option-in-london.html

Blue Mustang in Denver, Colorado

The “Blue Mustang” sculpture was created by the widely recognized artist, Luis Jiménez, whose previous works are displayed in numerous museums including the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.

Standing 32 feet tall and molded from polychromed fiberglass, the mustang is painted a vibrant blue with red, glowing neon eyes. Meant to represent the “wild” spirit of the old American West, Jiménez installed the glowing eyes as homage to the neon workshop he worked in as a youth. These glowing eyes have earned the sculpture the nickname "Blucifer."

The sculpture was commissioned in 1993, two years prior to the opening of the airport it stands outside of, but delays postponed its completion. Among these delays was the tragic death of the artist in 2006, when a 9,000 pound portion of the “Blue Mustang” sculpture broke loose and severed one of the artist's arteries. His sons completed the remaining work.

Finally in 2008, the mustang was installed at the entrance to the airport, much to the dismay of the residents of Denver. Public opinion has vilified the artwork with calls from many quarters to have it removed to a less prominent location. City officials have postponed any attempt to remove the work until after 2013 so that residents and visitors can grow accustomed to the statue in hopes that public opinion will soften over time.

from Atlas Obscura http://atlasobscura.com.feedsportal.com/c/35387/f/665719/s/40b1a70d/sc/10/l/0L0Satlasobscura0N0Cplaces0Cblue0Emustang/story01.htm