London Double-Decker Bus Converted Into Hotel Room
Posted on 09/07/2016, 12:00 AM
The South Causey Inn's double-decker bus room (photo: katyjourno/Instagram) Let's say you want to sleep inside an iconic symbol of London. The royal residences are likely out of the question, until you can get Prince Harry to return your calls. And there's probably a night watchman at the British Museum to expel you if you linger past closing. A better alternative: spend the night in...
Zika Update: U.S. Issues Singapore Travel Advisory
Posted on 09/07/2016, 12:00 AM
Though the largest outbreaks of Zika have been in Latin American and Caribbean countries, there have also been cases of the virus, which can be transmitted by mosquitos, reported in parts of Southeast Asia. Until recently, however, those have been isolated instances. That changed last week, when confirmed cases of Zika in the city-state of Singapore rose to 82. In response, the Centers for ...
Hotel Chains Testing High-Tech Innovations
Posted on 09/06/2016, 12:00 AM
The fully automated future foretold by The Jetsons hasn't quite come to pass yet, but more and more hotels are doing their part to hurry things along. The Washington Post offers a rundown of the high-tech innovations currently being tested at hotel chains. They include: voice-activated rooms that let you control the thermostat, lights, and even soundtrack by speaking (Aloft Hotels); robots th...
World's Longest, Highest Glass-Bottom Bridge Closes for Renovations
Posted on 09/06/2016, 12:00 AM
Zhangjiagie glass bridge in China (photo: skytg24hd/Instagram) That was quick. On Friday the world's longest and highest glass-bottom bridge, located in China's Zhangjiagie mountains, closed—just 13 days after it opened to the public on August 20. Officials say that the record-breaking structure, which stretches 430 meters (1,411 feet) across a drop of 300 meters (984 feet), was over...
Controversial Legislation for Grand Canyon Aerial Tram
Posted on 09/06/2016, 12:00 AM
Last week a Navajo Nation council member introduced controversial legislation for an aerial tram and other tourist attractions at the eastern rim of the Grand Canyon. Dubbed the Grand Canyon Escalade project, the plan calls for a gondola that would shuttle tourists from the cliffs of the Navajo Nation just outside of the national park down into the canyon, to the spot where the Colorado Rive...
World's Largest Indoor Theme Park Opens in Dubai
Posted on 09/02/2016, 12:00 AM
In Dubai—land of the superlative—the world's largest indoor theme park opened this week. Covering 1.5 million square feet, IMG Worlds of Adventure features 17 major thrill rides and attractions tied to Marvel superheroes, Cartoon Network characters, dinosaurs, and other theme-park standbys. The facility will be open 365 days a year; tickets cost US$82.69. The management hopes to attract 4....
Low Fares to Havana Now on Sale from Spirit
Posted on 09/02/2016, 12:00 AM
Fast on the heels of JetBlue operating the first flight in more than 50 years from the United States to Cuba, Spirit Airlines has begun offering, as of yesterday, its ultra-low fares for its own upcoming service to the Caribbean island nation. One of 10 U.S. airlines granted permission from the Department of Transportation to fly to Cuba, Spirit will be connecting Fort Lauderdale and Havana s...
Closed Due to Fires, Yellowstone's South Entrance Reopens
Posted on 09/02/2016, 12:00 AM
Several lightning-caused wildfires continue to burn in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this week. The biggest blaze has damaged 55 square miles of protected terrain since it started on August 8. Another forced the closure of the south entrance to Yellowstone, requiring visitors coming from Jackson, Wyoming, to take an hourlong detour by car to reach the park's western entrance. ...
American Airlines Puts Responsibility for Improving Service on . . . Passengers?
Posted on 09/01/2016, 12:00 AM
American Airlines has embarked on a novel, verging-on-shameless new marketing campaign gently reminding passengers to stay civil in the skies. Because "great flyers make the best of their situation," the ads encourage polite behavior such as ceding armrests to the person in the middle seat and asking those in your row for permission before you raise or lower the window shade. American does...
Indian Tourism Minister Says Female Visitors Shouldn't Wear Skirts
Posted on 09/01/2016, 12:00 AM
At a press conference on Sunday, Indian tourism minister Mahesh Sharma said that in order to stay safe, female visitors to the country should avoid wearing skirts or going out alone at night. He was being asked about security concerns in Agra, where the Taj Mahal is. Over the weekend, a 15-year-old girl was kidnapped from the streets of the city and raped—making her the 33rd minor to become ...
