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Aria Inside of City Centers new luxury hotel

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

The hottest new development in Las Vegas, City Center, is in the midst of a rolling opening this year, a sprawling glass and steel complex in the heart of the south strip. Among the most recent additions is Aria, an MGM hotel and casino billed as chic luxury. Gadling stopped by for a look last month.

In 2010, we're at the point in hotel design where oversight is just not made. Rooms, environments and features - especially at an MGM property -- are all engineered to suit a target demographic, and any missing or superfluous facet is as such for a reason. Aria's rooms and hotel strike me as perfectly engineered for my friend Bruce's mom.

The rooms, to start, are gorgeous, well appointed (and stocked,) clean, wood and white, with very tasteful art, floor to ceiling windows, automatic curtains and enough digital gadgetry to make any technophile dance with glee. Perhaps the best part of the room is the digital control that rests on the nightstand between the beds, a touch screen from where lights, curtains, music and television can be coordinated.

Gallery: City Center's Aria -- Las Vegas

Continue reading Aria: Inside of City Center's new luxury hotel

Aria: Inside of City Center's new luxury hotel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lewis the Duck welcomes younger guests to Homewood Suites by Hilton

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

Some hotels consider their pool to be the only way to entertain younger guests. Homewood suites by Hilton takes welcoming kids one step further by being the only chain in the world to publish a line of children's books.

The books revolve around the adventures of an adorable wood duck called Lewis. In the books, you join Lewis on his trips. Not only are the books really well written and illustrated - they are also educational. In the first book, "Lewis the Duck and his long trip", kids learn about hotels and how to locate a Homewood Suites (look for the duck!). In the newest book, "Lewis the Duck goes to Canada", kids learn about our neighbors to the north.

The books are available in the "Suite Shop" at Homewood Suites properties, or online at the fantastic Lewistheduck.com. At that site, kids can also play a Lewis the Duck game or create their own Lewis luggage tag. The books cost $7.99.

One cute fact I learned - the books are written by the global head of Homewood Suites brand management - Bill Duncan. As we mentioned earlier this week, Homewood Suites are a great pick for families traveling with kids, and being able to read to your kids from a Homewood Suites may make their trip even more enjoyable.

Lewis the Duck welcomes younger guests to Homewood Suites by Hilton originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Travel Trips March 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Festivals and Events

February was a busy month for travel shows, so we're looking forward to settling down a bit in March. Not too much, though...

March means music, man, and one of the top music conferences kicks off March 10 in Austin, Texas. Of course, there's a little more to it than just good tunes.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences & Festivals is the meeting place for original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. The conference offers panel discussions, workshops and global networking opportunities. Austin rocks with nearly 2,000 musical acts performing on over 80 stages.

Get your business cards ready because you never know what manager, labels, promoters, press, artist or other business professional you'll meet at SXSW.

Are you going to SXSW? Drop us a note and let us know your thoughts on the conference.

Top Travel Trips: March 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily gear deals $70 Olympus digital camera $42 rolling laptop bag and more

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Gadling's Daily Deal

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Sunday February 28th 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today's first deal is for the Olympus FE-46 12 megapixel digital camera. This camera features a 5x optical zoom and various on-board editing modes. It comes complete with a leather carrying case and a pack of Crayola crayons. On sale for just $69.99. Click here for this deal.

Next up is a Solo rolling laptop bag. This ballistic nylon case holds laptops up to 15.4", along with any other smaller items you need on your trip. On sale for $42.99. Click here for this deal.

Today's third deal is for the Navigon 5100 MAX widescreen GPS unit. This device comes with traffic information, lane guidance, Bluetooth and spoken street names. On sale for $79.99 at Dyscern.com. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today's lineup, if you are looking for a lightweight laptop without the trade-offs of a netbook, then check out the MSI U230 on sale at Frys.com and Fry's stores. The U230 is powered by an AMD NEO processor, and comes with a "real" video chip, allowing for HD playback. It comes with a 12" LED screen, 2GB of memory and a 250GB drive. On sale for $379.99. Click here for this deal.

Daily gear deals - $70 Olympus digital camera, $42 rolling laptop bag and more originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take The Negotiator on the road with the new Priceline app for the iPhone

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations

I've been a huge Priceline fan ever since I scored my first $20 five-star hotel room back in 2001. The ability to "name your own price" and hope for the best may seem scary, but after your first couple of rooms, you learn to have faith in "The Negotiator".

Up until now, accessing Priceline required a desktop or laptop, or a lot of patience on a mobile browser. Thankfully, iPhone users can now download the free Priceline app for their device.

The application is very slick - you can complete the entire booking process on your phone, using the name your price feature. Best of all, the app makes it very simple to locate nearby properties, ensuring you don't end up with a hotel 40 miles from where you actually wanted to be.

If you have used Priceline in the past (on the web), you'll instantly recognize the process. If you have never used Priceline, all you need to know is that you can't pick an exact hotel when you name the price you are willing to pay. The only two things you can request are the star rating and the location.

This location is based upon a region Priceline specifies. For a city like Chicago, the map is split into eight different areas. Each area is mapped inside the application, so you get a general idea where you could be staying.

Continue reading Take "The Negotiator" on the road with the new Priceline app for the iPhone

Take "The Negotiator" on the road with the new Priceline app for the iPhone originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill Gates traveling in Antarctica

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Activism, Blogs, Antarctica, Cruises

Where does one of the richest men in the world go to get away from it all? Apparently, in the case of Bill Gates, it's Antarctica. The Chairman of Microsoft used his twitter account to post his thoughts on the frozen continent a few days back, saying "the beauty is amazing", while lamenting the fact that his satellite Internet connection prevented him from uploading photos.

Gates is reportedly on vacation at the bottom of the world, taking some time away from his duties with the software giant that he helped found and his Gates Foundation which works with a number of different programs on a global level to improve the lives of people around the world in a variety of ways.

How Gates is traveling in the Antarctic isn't clear, but it's likely that he is on an adventure cruise through the icy waters that surround the continent. While travel into the interior is done for the season, cruises will continue for several weeks yet.

In one of his tweets, Gates says "I'm guessing not much tweeting has been done from Antarctica", but he might be surprised to hear that a number of explorers that traveled to the South Pole on skis over the past couple of years have used twitter to send updates back on their status and progress. Clearly technology has pervaded every segment of our life and communication is now possible from all corners of the planet.

Gates promises to tell us more about his journey on his Gates Notes website in the near future. Can't wait to hear more about his trip.

Bill Gates traveling in Antarctica originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day 022710

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Photos, Iceland, Photo of the Day

How far do you drive when you suspect that you've made a wrong turn? Do you base it on time or distance? In other words, are you more likely to say, "Hey, let's just give it 10 more minutes," or, "I think it's just another two miles after this sign?" I tend to go by time. If it seems like driving for 20 minutes without seeing my exit is odd, I'll assume that I must have missed it. I used to do the distance thing, but then I realized that I lack the proper understanding of spacial relations.

I'm reminded of this internal debate when I look at this photo by Flickr user kanelstrand from a road trip in Iceland. I'm a sucker for "road to nowhere" pictures. I'm also wistful for the pre-GPS days. I liked pulling over, unfolding a giant road map on the hood of my car and trying to figure out where the hell I was. Technology may make life easier and safer, but no one ever said that easy and safe were interesting.

Have a good shot from the last time you got lost? Submit your images to Gadling's Flickr group right now and we might use it for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (02.27.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital TV on the go with the FLO TV Personal Television the Gadling review

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Entertainment on the go is very important for most travelers. Some may find their entertainment in a book or stack of magazines, others (like myself) tend to rely on high tech gadgets. For those of you that enjoy their entertainment from TV on the go, there is the new FLO TV Personal Television

The FLO TV Personal Television looks more like a PDA than a digital TV. There is a reason for this - the TV is made by smartphone company HTC. Nothing on the device reminds you that you are looking at a television - there is no antenna and no tuning knobs.

On the front of the unit is a single button, on the top you'll find power button and battery status buttons, and on the side are volume controls. The screen is a 3.5" touch panel, and sound comes from a pair of stereo speakers on the rear of the TV, where you'll also find a sturdy stand.

Continue reading Digital TV on the go with the FLO TV Personal Television - the Gadling review

Digital TV on the go with the FLO TV Personal Television - the Gadling review originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A polo match fit for an elephant

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Asia

Before the Olympics wrap up on Feb. 28, it's only fitting that we pause to admire athletes from every walk of life. Take, for example, the competitors in the 9th annual King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament (March 22-28) held at Thailand's Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa.

Apparently there's actually a World Elephant Polo Association for the sport, which is prevalent in places such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Some rules from the association's website:

Elephants are swapped at half time to balance out any advantage
No elephants may lie down in front of the goal
An elephant may not pick up the ball with its trunk during play
Stepping on the ball is prohibited

For the polo tournament, the Anantara Golden Triangle resort has put together a special spectator package. With nightly rates starting at $493 per room per night, you'll get accommodations, breakfast, lunch, and transfers to and from the polo match. It's not cheap, but this hotel isn't exactly roughing it. Guests staying four nights or more will also receive a free round-trip transfer from Chiang Rai to the resort.

If going to Thailand for an elephant polo match this year isn't likely, there are some options closer to home: New York City has bike polo and Barbados hosts a Segway polo championships this year. (Random trivia: Steve Wozniak of Apple fame is reportedly not only a fan but a masterful Segway polo player.)

A polo match fit for an elephant originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SkyMall Monday Smittens

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Gear

SkyMall is nothing if not an unabashed supporter of love. We've covered their romantically practical Double Umbrella in the past. But since we wrote about that that firm love device, the catalog has stopped carrying it (heresy!). How are lovers supposed to proclaim their feelings to the world through SkyMall products without a Double Umbrella? Well, SkyMall Monday is pleased to announce that there is a new product that you and your lover can use to nauseate the world. It also gives me an excuse to use the word 'lover' as many times as possible. I'm not talking about the Siamese Slanket, which is as inconvenient as it is dangerous. I mean, what happens when one of you farts? It's the Dutchiest of ovens! No, I'm referring to a product far more romantic than that. Not only will lovers be able to show the world their commitment to one another, they will also be able to keep no less than one hand each warm and toasty. That's because, from now on, when lovers hold hands and stroll through a park, they'll be able to do so with their entangled hands ensconced in a shared hand garment. Ladies and gentlemen, friends and lovers, feast your eyes on Smittens.

Continue reading SkyMall Monday: Smittens

SkyMall Monday: Smittens originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visiting the new Liverpool

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Stories, United Kingdom

Liverpool has changed.

I attended the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (the Paul McCartney "fame" school) for three full years and thought I knew the place, but in the six years since my last visit, a series of events -- particularly its run as European Capital of Culture in 2008 -- has led to impressive developments of the "and New York still hasn't finished Ground Zero?" variety.

Firstly, everyone knows the Roman Catholic Cathedral, affectionately known as "Paddy's Wigwam," looks like a spaceship (or perhaps a wigwam). Now, it's as though a newer, more modern spaceship has landed in the town center. The new spaceship is Liverpool One, an epic open-air shopping complex with over 160 shops you didn't know Liverpudlians wanted or needed, as well as clubs, restaurants, a Novotel and a Hilton (on the left above) on the terrace and an enormous parking structure underneath it. The Grosvenor-backed project has brought a good deal of tourism to Liverpool, helping it to become the UK's second most popular destination (after London); women come in packs for shopping trips and to go clubbing at the uber-fab bars.

Gallery: Liverpool Old and New

Continue reading Visiting the new Liverpool

Visiting the new Liverpool originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Experience Tim Burtons version of Alice in Wonderland in Cornwall England

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Europe, United Kingdom, Budget Travel

Tim Burton's 3D version of the classic "Alice in Wonderland" tale -- starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen -- opens March 5.

Since the movie is a mix of live action, animation, and computer graphics, you can't exactly visit all the film locations and stand where Johnny stood. The live-action sequences, however, were shot in Cornwall, England at the National Trust's Antony House. To capitalize on the inevitable interest, the National Trust is hosting Alice-themed events at the 18th-century mansion through October 31.

Events: Mad Hatter's Tea Parties will be held on the Cork Oak Lawn every weekend starting March 6. Explore the house on March 16 and you'll see Alice's bedroom and other rooms that appear in the movie. (As part of the installation, the National Trust is decorating the rooms to look as they did during filming.) The White Rabbit Easter Trail, sponsored by Cadbury chocolate April 2 to 9, leads kids through the landscaped gardens, while a week-long schedule of children's activities from May 29 to June 3 will include a gigantic chessboard with life-size pieces. Kids of all ages can learn how to play croquet at workshops held on July 21, 28, August 5, 19 and 25.

Details: Standard admission is £7.50 for adults and £4.90 for kids. If you're a member of the Royal Oak Foundation (the U.S. affiliate of the National Trust), you can access the grounds and the house for free. The house, garden, and tea room have different operating hours so double-check before you make the trek. Some of the events, such as the Mad Hatter's Tea Parties or Easter Trail, will cost a little extra.

Gallery: "Alice in Wonderland" at Antony House

Experience Tim Burton's version of "Alice in Wonderland" in Cornwall, England originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Citys Roosevelt Island Tram closes for six months

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: North America, Budget Travel, News

New York City's Roosevelt Island Tram, which figured prominently in the "Spider-Man" movie, has closed for six months of repairs, reports the New York Times.

The tram ended its last run early this morning. Expected to reopen at the tail end of summer, the tram is due for maintenance: back in 2006, multiple power failures trapped 69 people about 200 feet above the East River for seven hours.

The tram, which offers a bird's-eye view of the skyline for $4 round-trip, has long been a favorite budget activity for visitors. Now those visitors may have to content themselves with seeing the skyline from a distance aboard the free Staten Island ferry.

New York City's Roosevelt Island Tram closes for six months originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everything you need to know about buying airfares as cheaply as possible in 500 words or less

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Business, Airlines, Airports, Budget Travel, Consumer Activism

If I could tell you just one thing, it would be this: sign up for free fare alerts. Time and again, I see articles whose main point is to crown one search engine-Kayak, or Travelocity, or Momondo or whatever-as the best bet to find a low fare. But usually, the price differences in these "bake off" comparisons are small potatoes, if they exist at all, because all airfare sites pretty much use the same fare data provided by the airlines. That said, meta search engines such as Kayak and Tripadvisor will do a better job at finding the relatively few fares that the airlines sell only on their own sites.

There is no one "magic bullet" airfare search site! The only sites that perform better on international fares are those selling "consolidator" fares, but these often come with caveats and extra restrictions, such as "miss your flight and you have to buy a whole new ticket" (you get what you pay for).

The big savings come from realizing that airfares can have wild and sudden swings, like stocks on the S&P 500. You may not have time to check them hour-by-hour or day-by-day, but airfare-tracking sites do, and will alert you when a fare goes down, sometimes by hundreds of dollars, either to a level you specify or by a percentage amount.

So sign up, it's free! Some alert systems require that you first search for a fare before they'll offer free email alerts; others let you sign up before searching. Here are some sites that offer alerts:

Continue reading Everything you need to know about buying airfares as cheaply as possible, in 500 words or less.

Everything you need to know about buying airfares as cheaply as possible, in 500 words or less. originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do people really care where youve been?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Stories

The humorist David Sedaris once wrote that as a child, he looked forward to a trip to Greece mainly because it was his chance to prove to his friends at home that he was worldly and continental. He imagined his classmates saying, "Did you hear? David has a passport now. Hurry, let's run before he judges us."

If each one of us were to take a dose of truth serum, we might admit to a similar feeling of self-satisfaction after a long trip. When I returned home from my first venture abroad, I embarrassingly thought that everyone I met would be dying to hear my tales of foreign intrigue. Turns out, few cared, and for those who did ask, I couldn't provide a very satisfying response to their questions.

"So, how was it?" a friend would ask. "Umm, it was really good," I'd answer. What more could I say? How could I condense a several-month-long trip into a several-second-long response?

Continue reading Do people really care where you've been?

Do people really care where you've been? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 North Pole expeditions season begins

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Skiing, North America, Russian Federation, Canada

The 2010 polar exploration season has begun with a number of solo explorers and teams setting off for the Geographic North Pole over the past couple of days. For most, the journey will take upwards of two months, during which time they'll battle inclement weather, unrelenting terrain, and their own physical limitations, just to stand at the top of the world.

While it is possible for explorers to make the journey to the Pole from the Russian side of the planet, this year all of the major expeditions will be starting in Canada. The small town of Resolute Bay serves as the launching pad for most of these intrepid travelers. With a population of just over 200 people, Resolute Bay is one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth. It is so far north in fact, that it has an annual average temperature of just 2.5ºF.

These adventurous men and women will make their way north on skies, all the while pulling their gear and supplies in a sled behind them. Some will go unsupported, which means they won't receive supply drops along the way, electing instead to carry everything they need with them when the get underway. Others will have food and gear delivered to them, usually in the form of an airdrops, and considering they burn in the area of 6000-8000 calories per day, they are always in need of food.

Continue reading 2010 North Pole expeditions season begins

2010 North Pole expeditions season begins originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day 2282010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Asia, Bhutan, Photo of the Day

For anyone with an urge to travel, Bhutan is one of those last great "untouched" destinations we all dream of visiting. A majestic kingdom of towering mountains, holy Buddhist retreats and smiling friendly locals. Flickr user sylhoo was lucky enough to visit Bhutan, capturing this serene shot of a mountain-top prayer shrine, criss-crossed with colorful prayer flags.

Have any great photos you'd like to submit for Gadling's Photo of the Day? Submit your best shots here.

Photo of the Day (2.28.2010) originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily Pampering Find the foam at Rhodes W1

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Food and Drink, United Kingdom

Rhodes W1 is a restaurant you'd never notice just off London's bustling Oxford Street. As those in-the-know are already aware, it's a hidden gem worth discovering.

The glam, Kelly Hoppen designed space is chic and elegant in black and taupe, accented with elaborate string curtains and dazzling crystal chandeliers by Spina which hang like icicles over the black leather-upholstered chairs. Crisp white tablecloths and attentive service are all part of the dining experience, but the food genuinely tops all that. For anyone who still thinks Britain can't cook, let this be your arousal from an ignorant sleep: Chef Gary Rhodes is a genius. And he's good-looking, too, but that's neither here nor there.

The menu draws inspiration from all over Europe; French, Italian, and British cuisine are favored. The extensive wine list is carefully cultivated to complement Rhodes' unique style -- I highly recommend choosing the cheese and wine flight for your dessert. They roll out a little cart covered in delicious cheeses from France and England and tell you what each one is. You select whichever ones you like, and shortly thereafter they are served along with three generous tastings of wine, chosen just for you by the sommelier. Nice.

A three-course dinner, before the cost of wine, is a reasonable £49.90 per person if you choose from the a'la carte menu. The food is divine, with an unexpected emphasis on foam. Seriously. Click through the gallery and spot the use of foam in every single dish. My personal favorite was the lemongrass foam, served with the Seared Scottish Scallops.

Gallery: Rhodes W1 - Find the Foam

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

This trip was paid for by VisitBritain, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.

Daily Pampering: Find the foam at Rhodes W1 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turn your USB modem into a hotspot with the Aluratek CDM530AM the Gadling review

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Are you traveling with a USB 3G modem? Even though there are some nice Wi-Fi enabled versions of these devices, not everyone is able to change their adapter. For those users, there are USB to Wi-Fi broadband adapters on the market.

In this review, I'll introduce you to the new Aluratek CDM530AM. This compact device features 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a USB port, an Ethernet port and an integrated Lithium-Ion battery pack.

Using the device couldn't be easier - out of the box, it supports almost every 3G broadband adapter on the market. The initial setup involves plugging it into the network port of your PC, running the setup CD, and configuring things like wireless security.

Continue reading Turn your USB modem into a hotspot with the Aluratek CDM530AM - the Gadling review

Turn your USB modem into a hotspot with the Aluratek CDM530AM - the Gadling review originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily gear deals $6 toiletries set $39 luggage set and more

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Gadling's Daily Deal

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Monday March 1st 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today's first deal is for a TSA friendly 16-piece travel toiletries kit. The kit comes with a variety of bottles, lotion pots, pill holders and a pouch. On sale for $5.97. Click here for this deal.

Next up is a budget luggage set. It comes with 2 pieces of carry-on luggage available in three colors. Reviews are pretty good, and shipping is free. The set includes a 21" rolling bag and an under-seat duffel. On sale for just $39. Click here for this deal.

Today's third deal is for the Rick Steves Civita daypack. This roomy backpack comes in six different colors, and most of the colors are on sale for under $20. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today's lineup, head on over to 1saleaday for a Samsung Bluetooth headset. The headset comes with a variety of "skins" and costs $19.99 - but you also get a $23 rebate, making the final price -$3.01. Click here for this deal.

Daily gear deals - $6 toiletries set, $39 luggage set and more originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Under Parisian Light | The White Stripes Pictures from the event !

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

UNDER PARISIAN LIGHTS The White Stripes : Under Great White Northern Lights (documentary) Premiere on the 27th of February 2010 at 9pm (come early !) Director Emmet Malloy and Producer Mike Sarkissian will answer questions from Olivier Cachin. Followed by a top 5 of the best White Stripes music videos you can vote for here and the [...]

Serious Weather

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

12 Celsius today in Pembrey Sands, just west of Swansea. A taste of spring!

The weather will be anything but spring-like though over the next few days with rain and strong winds sweeping across southern Britain - with only brief drier, brighter periods.

Serious weather for Scotland where it's snowing heavily, with the strong east winds causing drifting too. The persistence of this snow through Thursday and into Friday means that 30 to 50cm of snow, nearly 2 feet, could potentially accumulate over high ground.

Further afield, Madeira is set to be walloped by another Atlantic storm later this week. The track of this depression takes severe gales into Iberia through Saturday, and then up through Biscay and France on Sunday.

Double Figures

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

..in the south today.

I'm talking temperatures. We could see 9 or 10c in southern areas this afternoon. These are numbers we haven't seen in a long time. Weeks. Maybe months! It'll feel much milder than it has been.

There's a lot of cloudy, breezy, wet weather around making it feel miserable but in places where the cloud breaks and the sunshine manages to poke through, it'll feel positively Spring like!

Snow Disruption for 48 hours

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Lisa has detailed the level of snow and where in her blog this morning.

These sleet and snow showers will be accompanied by a strong easterly wind causing some snow drift and travel disruption during tonight and tomorrow mornings rush hour in northern Ireland, northern England and southern Scotland, particularly on the higher routes.

This unsettled wintry mix will persist tomorrow across northern Britain and on Thursday until the band of rain and sleet will start to ease on Friday with the far north of the UK and the far south brightening up.

It will stay mild in the south all week with temperatures even creeping into double figures for the southern most counties.

Stay up to date with your local forecast for the next few days.

More Snow Today 38 Tomorrow Moving North

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Today, a band of rain across southern Britain and Ireland will turn increasingly to snow as it trundles northwards. Central Ireland, Wales, west and north Midlands will see 0-3cm at low levels, 2-5cm above 200m and 10-15cm on east facing upslopes. This is happening because colder air at the boundary with the rainbelt is being entrained as it journies NNE.

Overnight, the snowfall will continue for the north of Ireland, northern England and southern Scotland. Northern Ireland could see over 20cm locally, especially on the eastern facing hills. Northern England and southern Scotland more likely to receive 5-10cm, and 15cm in more isolated spots.

During Wednesday the snow-belt will shuffle northwards across Scotland, lingering through the north of Ireland. However, southern Britain will have much milder air with heavy bursts of rain; up to 25mm for some southern counties.

Storm Xynthia Heads NorthEast

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The rains experienced in southeast England yesterday were connected to storm Xynthia which is currently moving across north-east Germany into Sweden and Poland.

Xynthia moved across Madeira into the Canary Islands overnight Friday with winds gusting in excess of 118mph (190kph) bringing down lampposts and a crane collapsed on a building.

Northern Portugal and Spain were then hit by hurricane strength winds and heavy rains on Saturday. At least four people were killed: a ten year old boy in Paredes; an 82 year old woman in northwestern Ourense, Galicia; and two men aged 41 and 51 in their car in Arlanzon. All of these deaths were the result of falling trees.

Overnight into Sunday, Xynthia travelled through the Bay of Biscay to hit France. Southwestern regions of Vendee and Charente-Maritime were most affected with coastal islands flooded and boats tossed around in ports. 47 people are known to have died, mostly through drowning, and many more were injured. Nearly a million homes and businesses were left without electricity. Winds of almost 100mph (160kph) were recorded along the Atlantic coast and across the Pyrenees they reached 130mph (200kph). In Paris, the top of the Eiffel Tower experienced winds of 100mph (160kph) and hundreds of buildings were damaged. It is the fiercest storm to hit France since 1999, when 90 people died.

The death toll in Germany is currently four, again all due to falling trees. The winds across northeastern Germany this morning were around 40-50mph, but the storm is clearing Germany and Denmark by early afternoon.

Storm Xynthia is today moving across northern Poland and Sweden. It might pick up intensity over the waters of the Baltic Sea before heading into the Baltic States and Finland tomorrow.

For us in Britain, despite the rain of Sunday, the current settled spell will help ease swollen rivers. The weather forecast is available here.

Snow Rain Gales Dont Blame Me!

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Yesterday I ran at lunchtime and the sun came out. I took my jacket off, and smiled at the glorious sky. It didn't last long but that spring-like sunny spell made me feel fantastic.

Today I ran in beautiful Surrey countryside - made more challenging by the mud and sodden paths. No sun, just grey skies.

I came in to work afterwards with the hope that the synoptic charts (fronts and low/high pressure areas) would be showing signs of something more settled and spring-like. Ummm.... no.

Quite the opposite in fact, with more snow for the north, and the risk of heavy rain and severe gales for southern Britain and the Channel later this weekend.

Slabby

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

SLAB from CIRCULATE on Vimeo.

Mixed blessings

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I'm sick of the variable weather we've been having. Take yesterday. The log man rang to say he was on his way. Great news as he's pretty unreliable, but a glance outside made my heart sink. It was just lashing with rain, so the delivery of four cubic metres of wet logs didn't fill me with joy. We haven't stacked them yet [...]

My Oyster Card My Myki Card

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Public transport smartcard systems are all the go. All over the world cities are rolling out computerised transport tickets which allow commuters to use one card to access multiple forms of public transport. For the transport operator it means efficiencies, for the transport user it means cost savings and, more important, convenience.

I’ve got two of them in my wallet, like almost anybody using public transport much in London I love my Oyster Card. I swipe it on the way into the tube station, swipe it again on the way out and it takes me all over London. It also operates on light rail systems, buses and even on some boat services on the Thames. My Oyster Card saves me money – a one-way trip costs £4 with a ticket, £1.80 by Oyster.

Buy an off peak all day ticket and change your mind after the first ride and you’re still paying for the whole day. Your Oyster Card charges you trip by trip until you reach the all day cost and stops right there. But best of all is you don’t waste time queuing up to buy tickets, I add £20, 40 or 50 on to my card and forget about it until it needs topping up.

Getting any Smartcard system up and running can be an expensive proposition, there’s lots of equipment to install at stations and/or on the trains, buses, trams, etc. More important there’s all the tricky software to make it work. Getting the Oyster Card up and running cost around £160 million pounds, around US$250 million. But London is a big, complex system. There are 400km of underground line, 270 stations, nearly 7000 buses and over 3 million daily tube commuters and even more by bus.

Other Smartcard systems have cost much less – Singapore’s EZ-Link cost about US$80 million, the Chicago Card cost about US$110 million. And then there’s Melbourne’s Myki Card – over US$700 million and counting because it doesn’t even work yet. I got a Myki card on 9 January and while it works fine on Melbourne’s train system (it knocks the standard two hour fare down from A$3.70 (US$3.30) to A$2.94 (US$2.65) that’s as far as it goes. Melbourne’s public transport system is big: nearly as many km of rail track as London, 200 stations, 500 trams and 250km of tram track.

The city’s real problem is that two hour ticketing system. Passengers have to swipe in and swipe out in order to make it work and they have to be able to do that not just from nice stationary train stations, easy to hard wire back to the central computers, but also from buses and trams , often sandwiched between towering blocks of buildings. Getting that to work has, so far proved impossible. So my Myki card is now seven weeks old and – despite that big investment – only doing half a job.

Gaddafis naughty boy

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Travelling around Libya it struck me that Muammar al-Gaddafi was the Michael Jackson of dictators, always keen on appearing in fancy dress. He has just reinforced his whacky reputation by declaring a jihad on Switzerland and suggesting that Muslim nations should ban Swiss ships from their ports. Check the maps before the Swiss navy decides to head for Afghanistan.

Although Gaddafi mumbled about Swiss bans on minarets the main problem seems to have been a brief arrest of his 5th son Hannibal in Geneva in 2008. On this occasion he was reputedly beating up his servants with his wife's assistance, but the naughty boy certainly has form:

• 2001 – attacks three Italian policemen with a fire extinguisher
• 2004 – 150kph and through red lights while driving down the Champs Elysées in the wrong direction in his Porsche. Oh and he was drunk.
• 2005 – still in Paris beats up his girlfriend, fined and given 4 month suspended sentence
• 2009 – breaks same women’s nose in Claridges Hotel in London – she’s married to him now – or did she just fall over?

I wrote about Libya for my book Bad Lands, which also features an assortment of other 'bad' countries I travelled to including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Diverted Flights

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Flights that get diverted and end up somewhere unintended are always a pain in the neck. I’ve had a few over the years including one last year – it was my very first flight on a double-decker Airbus A380 and Qantas managed to take me from Los Angeles to Sydney instead of Melbourne. The 15 hour flight turned into a 22 hour one.

A Briitish Airways 747 at London Heathrow Airport

There have been two intriguing diversions in the past couple of weeks. On 15 February British Airways flight BA 243 was two hours out of London, en route to Mexico City, when it had to turn around and return to London. The 747 would have flown over the USA en route to Mexico and although it would not have landed in the US the American authorities had decided they didn’t want one of the passengers flying over the USA. Back in London a 55 year old passenger (with a US passport!) deplaned and presumably took a flight to Mexico which did not fly over American territory. Who was he? What was this all about? The flight arrived at Mexico City seven hours late.

It was remarkably similar to an Air France Paris-Mexico City flight on 18 April 2009. Again the flight was not allowed to enter American airspace, but instead of returning to Paris it diverted to Martinique, a French Caribbean island, to refuel before continuing to Mexico City. On this occasion the person involved was Colombian journalist and author Hernando Calvo Ospina, on his way to report on a conference in Nicaragua for the French newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique. His books include Bacardi: The Hidden War which follows the intriguing story of the rum manufacturer’s involvement in the long-running US embargo on Cuba.

For years after the Vietnam War ended flights from – say – Bangkok to Hong Kong had to make a lengthy dogleg diversion around Vietnam. Perhaps one day European airlines will have to take a circuitous route to Mexico or Central America to avoid crossing the US.

A much more mundane diversion (although even more time consuming and annoying for the passengers) took place on 20 February last week. A Ryanair flight from Bournemouth in the south of England to Lanzarote on the Canary Islands ended up at Fuerteventura, on an entirely different Canary Island, due to a thunderstorm. Later on the flight continued to Lanzarote, but without the passengers. Ryanair (an airline not particularly noted for passenger service!) suggested that they should be able to get on a ferry for the 60km trip the next day. I flew Ryanair once last year, London to Trieste for all of €14.99. My flight went to the right airport.

Daily Travel Photo � Death Valley California

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Road sign in Death Valley National Park, California

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

This Week In Travel � Episode 27

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This week Jen Leo couldn’t make it so we had two guests: Juila Dimon and Chris Grey Faust. We talk about Kevin Smith being too fat.

Subscribe on iTunes | Become a fan on Facebook | Download the iPhone App

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Daily Travel Photo � St Mark’s Square Venice Italy

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

St. Marks Square, Venice, Italy

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

March 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1920×1200 (widescreen) | 1280×1024 (standard)

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Daily Travel Photo � Glacier National Park Montana

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Lake MacDonald Lodge, Glacier NP, Montana

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Daily Travel Photo � Tonle Sap Cambodia

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Crocodile Farm, Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Daily Travel Photo � Burgge Belgium

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

City Center, Brugge, Belgium

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Daily Travel Photo � Angkor Cambodia

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Temple ruins, Angkor, Cambodia

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

WIN One of Two Computer Travel Bags from Frommer’s $110 Value

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Prize #1: Echo Laptop Backpack

My first contest for 2010 is a great one. I’m giving away a computer backpack and a laptop sleeve from the line of Frommer’s Travel Accessories. I selected these because I thought they’d be the prefect gifts for my readers as they like to travel and are very technically savvy.

First prize will be the Echo Computer Backpack, an $80 value.

E stands for everything, as in the Echo has it all! This lightweight pack is perfect for travel, work, or school with its pockets for paperwork, pens, and electronic accessories, plus a padded compartment that keeps your computer cradled. The fit is fantastic, and there’s no more scrambling for that buzzing phone with the convenient shoulder strap cell pocket. The easy-wipe bottom helps keep it clean.

Prize #2: Delta 17 Laptop Sleeve

Second prize is the Delta 17 Laptop Sleeve, a $30 value:

The biggest in our series of laptop sleeves, the 17” Delta gets down to business storing all your work necessities in a lightweight sleeve. The padded interior supports your computer, while the large pocket stores papers, pens, and computer accessories like your power cord and mouse. Speaking of mouse, flip the Delta and on the case you’ll find a built-in mouse pad. So smart!

As usual, entering the contest is easy. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite piece of travel luggage or bag is. I’ll pick two comments via Random.org and the contest will end on March 7.

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world.

Hilo How the Hawaii Tsunami Watch Will See Only a Wave of Tourists

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

On Saturday, after the catastrophic earthquake in Chile, places that might be in the path of a resulting tsunami battened down the hatches and awaited the waves. One of these places was Hawaii, which instead of having everyone run inside and pray that the wave would leave then high and dry, sent reporters to the beaches and trained livecams on the surf so that the world could watch for the tsunami, too.

Although a massive wave never arrived in favor of some tidal ebbing and flowing, what Hawaii did get were millions of eyes trained on its gorgeous beaches and water. People were excited; their heartrates went up as they eagerly watched the water rapidly rush out of Hilo Bay, like seen in the livecam capture above, and we couldn't help but think what priceless tourism marketing this is for Hawaii. And we weren't alone:

Rochester This Week in Naughty Flight Attendants Fight Breaks Out on Flight

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There was a ton of bad weather invading the Northeast late last week, which caused plenty of delays and cancellations, but the weather had nothing to do with a canceled flight scheduled from Rochester, New York to Atlanta. Apparently two flight attendants were fighting aboard a Delta Connection flight operated Pinnacle Airlines, and the scuffle was enough for the pilot to call the whole trip off. No word on if this had anything to do with the current season of The Bachelor—this season’s hunk is a pilot for another regional airline.

The plane was still on the ground—thankfully—but this whole situation still sounds like a disaster. Some passengers reported that the two flight attendants were actually engaged in a fist fight, but other reports indicated that there was no physical contact. We’re sure that Delta is pretty pissed in having to deal with this situation, even though Pinnacle Airlines was in charge of the flight. Delta’s name is on the outside of the airplane, so it’s still their problem, and they'll probably be sending the flight attendants into the corner for a timeout.

Aloft and nostalgic!

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There are days I look at Chet, so close to turning 5, and can’t believe he was once small enough to reside inside my belly. I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic. And then there are days, usually when we’re traveling and he’s loudly whining, “Carry me, Mommy!” just as we reach some steep [...]

Got a Plane Spotter in the Family?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Like most families, my family has plenty of strange habits. I devour Jane Austen fan fiction by the pound, my husband subscribes to cooking magazines but does not actually cook, and my daughter collects business cards.

Catacombs and churches of bones

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If you find yourself more intrigued by a place’s cemeteries than by its museums, here are a few ghastly destinations around Europe that you might want to check out:

Paris Catacombs – Deep below the city of Paris visitors can wander the old cramped city quarries lined from floor to ceiling with human bones. The walls are packed with skulls and bones in various decorative shapes and patterns.
With the removal of the Saints-Innocents Cemetery in the late 1800s, the remains were transferred to a section of the Quarries of Paris creating Municipal Ossuary or, as it is referred to today, The Catacombs.
Entrance is 8€, with reduced ticket prices available to seniors and students.

Sedlec Ossuary – The Sedlec Ossuary is a small chapel in the suburbs of Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic. With the expansion of the surrounding cemetery in the 14th and 15th centuries, older graves were exhumed and the bones went on to create this grim chapel.
The Sedlec Ossuary is ornamented everywhere in human bones. A large chandelier of skulls and bones hangs from the ceiling, while a multitude of other skeletal embellishments line the stairs, ceiling, and walls.
Admission: 30CZK, and 20CZK for students.

Capela dos Ossos – This Chapel of Bones, built in the 16th century, is located in Evora, Portugal. Here skulls and bones are set into cement, while perfect human skeletons are recreated in several corners.
Admission: 2€.

Hallstatt Ossuary – The Austrian city of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the Hallstatt Beinhaus, also called the Charnel House. This ossuary was established in the 1700s in order to make room for more graves. This small Beinhaus is crammed with some 1200 exhumed human skulls that have been bleached in the sun and painted with the names of the deceased, colorful flowers, or personally symbolic images.
Admission: 1€.

Capuchini Bone Chapel – The Capuchini Crypt is located beneath the Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins in Rome, Italy. Five of the six rooms of this are decorated with the bones of Capuchin friars, with some rooms dedicated to specific bones of the body. Working chandeliers of bone throw light on the skeletal designs of this crypt.
Entrance is by donation

Should You Pack A Gun To Make Sure the TSA Takes Care Of Your Baggage?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Internet works in strange and wonderful ways. In 2006, Bill Schneier posted a travel hack on his security blog, musing that photographers who check expensive camera lenses can put empty guns or starter pistols in their luggage to secure their equipment. Since TSA classifies them as firearms they trigger a bevy of special screenings and tracking. The trick was picked up last January by productivity uber-blog Lifehacker, and from there spread across the blogosphere and even into legacy media. Over the weekend it landed in our Twitter inbox with a "verify this" request, and here we are.

Does this work? Absolutely. When you check luggage at the counter you're asked to declare if you have a firearm. If you indicate that you do, a TSA agent is called over to flag your baggage, hand-screen it, and confirm that the firearm is packed correctly. That means, minimally: unloaded, kept in a separate hard case, and secured by an unbreakable lock. The upshot is two-fold. Flagged luggage is extra-tracked to the point where Schneier says the risk of loss is "virtually zero." In the meantime, since your bags have already been screened, you're entitled to lock them and TSA has to contact you before breaking the locks.

So can you do this? Sure. Should you do it? Highly questionable...

Google Earth Zooms In On The US Militarys Huge Aircraft Graveyard

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There's a very cool story dug up by Gizmodo recently, that Google Earth now provides an eagle-eyed view of an aircraft boneyard for the US military. We dream of visiting an airplane boneyard, but for now—this might be as close as we can get. Here's what they have to say about its awesomeness:

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), also known as the Boneyard, is a four square mile site in Arizona housing 4,000 retired aircraft—or at least one of almost every US armed forces plane since WWII.

And don't think that they are just rusting out there. Salvaged parts come from this place like nobody's business, helping to recycle what's left and regain some money. Sadly, there are no guided tours of the site. But there is this huge BBC image of it for us to drool over in the meantime.

Related Stories:
· Google Earth's View of the Boneyard, Where Planes Go To Die [Gizmodo]
· Google Earth Reveals US Military's Biggest Plane Graveyard [Treehugger]
· Airplanes [Jaunted]

[Photo: Google Earth, Treehugger]

Whos Helping Out in Chile and How You Can Contribute to Earthquake Relief

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Though Chile may have been somewhat prepared for the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast on Saturday, they are still in need of assistance with more than 700 dead and dozens of bridges and buildings collapsed. Here's a look at some organizations that have already gone into action and how you can help out:

· The American Red Cross is pledging $50,000 from its International Response Fund for relief operations. You can donate to the Red Cross online or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW.

· Habitat for Humanity Chile is already working on developing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. To help, you can donate online or register to become a volunteer for Habitiat for Humanity in the U.S. They frequently send teams around the world to help build housing and shelter for those in need.

More! After the jump...

Venice The JoliePitts Bring the Whole Brood to Venice for Filming The Tourist

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Our favorite Super World Travelers are at it again! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are slogging around Europe with their whole brood in tow while Jolie films "The Tourist," a drama that gets Johnny Depp (a tourist) wrapped up in the doings of Jolie, who is an Interpol agent tracking an Italian gangster.

Last week they were in Paris, but filming now has then swinging down to the canals of Venice to continue the movie. Jolie and Pitt were spotted with their rarely-seen 19-month-old twins, Vivienne and Knox, as the family hunkered down in a rented lavish palazzo.

One more pictures, after the jump