Bikini (And Speedo) Ban To Be Instituted On One of Spain's Balearic Isles
Posted on 05/06/2014, 8:30 PM
And if you guessed Ibiza, you're dead wrong. But before I reveal which island, a bit of history: In 1838 writer George Sand and her lover, composer Frederic Chopin decided to winter on this Mediterranean isle in the hopes that it would prove a restorative sojourn for the tubercular composer. That guess proved wrong. Not only was the island lashed with driving winds and constant rain stor...
Minions, Mayhem and Universal’s Godzilla-Sized “Footprint”
Posted on 05/06/2014, 11:30 AM
Universal Studios Theme Parks & Resorts, flush with funds from its gajillionaire owner Comcast is going mano a mano with Disney in an all out bid to own the theme park world. Speaking at an investor conference in January, Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts vowed that the telecom giant was “doubling down on theme parks.” Now Universal Studios Hollywood is promoting its newly opened “Despic...
Now We Are Free: Paris Says “Merci” on Anniversary of Liberation
Posted on 04/24/2014, 2:15 PM
August 19, 1944 began the “Battle for Paris” that culminated in the City of Light being liberated from occupation when the final German troops left on August 25th. This 70th anniversary year (also the 70th anniversary of D Day in Normandy) the Parisians would like to say “merci” and are doing it in a media campaign announced this week at New York’s Park Avenue Armory. The commercial, whi...
Where in the World is Godzilla? Hint: It's Not Tokyo
Posted on 04/23/2014, 12:30 PM
The web is abuzz with talk of the remake of the Toho classic film, Godzilla, premiering around the country in May. Advance word is the remix (this time with Bryan Cranston) is as awesome as the big guy himself. Web searches on travel sites will also call up eager travelers who want to know if they can find a Godzilla museum in Japan. The short answer is no. Unfortunately, there is no G...
Three American Express Credit Cards Drop Foreign Transaction Fees
Posted on 04/22/2014, 11:45 AM
For years, most travel experts recommended Capital One for its industry-bucking policy of not charging a foreign transaction fee every time customers made a purchase outside the United States. Capital One Venture's dominance among travelers is being challenged, though: American Express has uncharacteristically announced that three of its products will not charge foreign transaction fees afte...
Salem Still Bewitches: What to See In MA's Historic Town
Posted on 04/17/2014, 1:30 PM
If you’ve been watching TV trailers you may have seen the promos for the new WGN America series Salem. Taking a page from the popular show American Horror: Coven, which was also about witches and featured a creepy/stylish trailer, Salem features the real characters and story of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials—along with Game of Thrones scene stealing nudity, sex and the ever-popular theme o...
Free National Park entry April 19 and 20
Posted on 04/15/2014, 5:45 PM
The National Park Service and its supporting charity, the National Park Foundation, are once again throwing the gates open to the United States' national parks. The weekend of April 19 and 20 will see fees waived across the country. Some particularly timely national park units to visit are the ones that are marking the 150th anniversary of Civil War battles this year, including Petersburg in...
Hot Type to Go: Is the Print Travel Magazine Dying? Two Editors See Open Horizons
Posted on 04/10/2014, 3:15 PM
The future of the physical, non-virtual travel magazine is on travelers’ talking lists lately. The recent shake-ups at Condé Nast Traveler and its subsequent high profile relaunch has spurred debate—is the travel magazine in its old school glossy, print format dead? The Editors of Delta Sky and Afar magazines don’t think so. Not by a long shot. Last week, Delta’s in-flight Sky magaz...
A Tip on Digital Safety for Travelers: Always Look for the "S" in http. Here's Why
Posted on 04/09/2014, 8:00 AM
Identity theft is a growing problem, especially for travelers. That’s because criminals tend to congregate in hotel lobbies, cafes and other areas with free wifi, because they know that folks who are on the road are more likely to use these unsecure networks and may expose their passwords, and other vital personal information, to digital snoopers. So try and avoid using banking, social network,...
Game On: As the HBO Series Returns, Travelers are Being Lured to Game of Thrones Destinations
Posted on 04/07/2014, 12:45 PM
They’re back. Jaime Lannister and his twisted sister Cersei, Tyrion the wise, Joffrey the awful, the Mother of Dragons and the whole crew (minus some key family members that were taken out last season) are back in the addictive HBO fantasy drama that is filmed in real-life fairy tale-like locations. Tourism Ireland has an entire webpage dedicated to doing Game of Thrones locations in Nort...
