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London Passengers face Tube strike chaos

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:34:23 +0000

Passengers face Tube strike chaos
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11209522

Millions of London Underground passengers face disruption throughout the day because of strike action.
The first in a series of 24-hour walkouts began at 1700 BST on Monday with maintenance staff walking out. Drivers, signallers and station staff stopped working four hours later.
They are unhappy about plans to cut 800 jobs in ticket offices and say security could be at risk.

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Fewer travelers unplug while on vacation

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:16:51 +0000

Fewer travelers unplug while on vacation
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38877732/ns/travel-business_travel/

People used to go on holiday to unplug. Now they’re demanding to be plugged in.
That secluded, desert island-type getaway may soon be as dated as the post-vacation slideshow as more travelers use e-mails, Facebook and Twitter to nurture the ties that bind even while they get away from it all.
“For many travelers, figuring out how to stay connected is as integral to the travel process as packing sun lotion and swimwear,” said Amelie Hurst of travel website TripAdvisor.
“In times gone by this just wasn’t an option. Traveling went hand in hand with being disconnected,” she said.
Hurst said clients planning their trips routinely factor in the best means of staying in contact.
“Travelers ask the quality of cell phone service, international data plans. Staying connected can offer travelers a real comfort,” she explained.

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What a plane ticket says about you

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:38:20 +0000

Bumped? What a plane ticket says about you
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38852354/ns/travel-travel_tips/

NEW YORK — There are a few bits of information to pay close attention to on an airline ticket: the flight number, gate number and boarding time. Fare basis code? Not a common concern.
But the single-letter code can make a big difference in some parts of the travel experience, even though most passengers don’t pay any attention. A fare basis code further divides passengers into classes based on how much they paid and how far out they booked. There are up to a dozen in coach class alone.
When you’re on the plane, there’s no difference in service between a passenger who has a “Y” or “Q” — a full-fare and a discounted ticket — if you’re both in coach. But the codes are still important: Some indicate your trip isn’t eligible for frequent-flier miles or an upgrade; others tell a ticket agent where to rank you on a standby list.

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Flights to Sydney, Flights to Perth: 5 Airlines to choose between

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:38:04 +0000

Flights to Sydney, Flights to Perth – 5 Airlines to choose between

Flights to Sydney, Flights to Perth: 5 Airlines to choose between

Whether one’s flying to Sydney or flying to Perth from South Africa, you’re going to be in for quite a long flight. There are many ways to get to Australia, so there’s often a bewildering array of choices in airlines. Here’s some basic info in no particular order on each of them, to help you choose which will suit you best.

1. South African Airways – flights to Perth

The national carrier of South Africa offers tickets on flights to Perth and flights to Sydney, but remember, them and Qantas have what’s called a “code-share” deal where they each sell tickets on each other’s plane. So SAA operates the flight to Perth and Qantas operates the flight to Sydney. SAA is the most direct flight Perth, so it’s definitely worth considering – but be warned, they often use an older plane on that route which may mean you don’t get any individual seat-back TV screens and will be forced to watch whatever it is the airline has picked out for you. The flight from Joburg is 9 hours to Perth and 12 hours back.

For flight prices

2. Qantas – flights to Sydney

The national carrier of Australia is the world’s second oldest airline and has had plenty of experience in developing world class service. This airline operates the direct flight from Joburg to Sydney and offers economy, premium economy and business class tickets from South Africa. Being the flag carrier of this enormous country it offers many add-on flights beyond Sydney through to all destinations in Australia and some in New Zealand. Flights from Joburg are 12 hours to Sydney and 14 hours back.

For flight prices

3. Emirates – flights to Perth, flights to Sydney

The worlds favourite airline offers good rates on flights to Perth and flights to Sydney, and while the flight might be long (from Joburg its about 21 hours to Perth and 28 hours to Sydney), this is because Emirates flies via Dubai. Now while this makes for a bit of a schlep, what is on offer is the opportunity to make a stop off in Dubai for shopping, sightseeing, relaxation or even business, this will turn your mission of a trip into something of a holiday adventure! Definitely worth looking into.

For flight prices

4. Singapore Airlines – flights to Perth, flights to Sydney

5 Star airline extraordinaire, Singapore airlines has many destinations on its network including flights to Sydney and flights to Perth. Another long flight (from Joburg to Sydney 21 hours and 18 hours to Perth), this airline travels via it’s hub, Singapore – a small island at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula. Far from being an ordeal Singapore airlines offers great stopovers in one of the worlds premier shopping and tourist destinations. The airport is glamourous and full of interesting and engaging features like it’s sunflower garden and roof-top pool and offers passengers a host of discounts, benefits and often some freebies too!

For flight prices

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Know the Tipping Customs – International Travel Tip

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:15:41 +0000

Know the Tipping Customs – International Travel Tip
http://www.travelstart.com/street/know-the-tipping-customs-international-travel-tip/

Before a trip to an unfamiliar country, research your destination ahead of time to find out what is considered an appropriate tipping amount.
When dining in the United States, a 15-20% tip is customary for restaurants offering traditional table service. Many younger people in the States actually tip 20% on a regular basis. On the other hand — in certain cities like Miami some restaurants will automatically add gratuity onto the bill — it totally depends on the venue, but I have seen quite a bit in South Beach at casual dining spots.
Anywhere in the States, for large parties of 6-8+ people dining in a restaurant, 18-20% is often automatically added onto the check.
It is a good idea to do the following –
Know the standard amount to tip at restaurants ahead of time (based upon the country you are visiting).
Avoid tipping twice by checking your bill thoroughly prior to applying gratuity.

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Travel Tips: Vacation in Italy

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:22:52 +0000

Travel Tips: Vacation in Italy
http://www.farecompare.com/articles/farecompare-4×4-travel-deals-4-ways/travel-tips-vacation-in-italy/

Our guest Melanie Renzulli is the founder of Italofile.com, the Italy Travel Resource. In addition to her Italy travel website, Melanie has written or contributed to several Italy guidebooks, including “The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy” and Michelin’s Green Guides for Italy, Rome, and Tuscany. She also writes about Italian cities for About.com.
We got in touch with Melanie (via email) and asked her to help us plan an Italian getaway.

A nice overview of things to do and places to see in italy.

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Sleep in an Airplane Without the Turbulence at this Quirky Hotel

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:07:45 +0000

Wacky Wednesday: Boeing or Bust – Sleep in an Airplane Without the Turbulence at this Quirky Hotel « We Are Not Making This Up
http://tripadvisor.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/wacky-wednesday-hotel-costa-verde/

While chartering a private jet may be too pricey, it turns out that sleeping in one is somewhat affordable. With a soft spot for wacky travel, TripAdvisor’s TripWatch newsletter recently highlighted the Hotel Costa Verde’s 727 Fuselage Home in Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park. Located fifty feet above the ground, this one-of-a-kind suite gives both travelers and aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to spend the night in a refurbished Boeing aircraft, complete with sleek wood paneling and a flat screen TV.

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Union to meet to decide on strike that could affect Heathrow

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:17:25 +0000

Union to meet to decide on strike that could affect Heathrow
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/16/uk.airports/index.html

London, England (CNN) — The union representing employees of airport operator BAA will meet Monday to decided when to strike.
The union on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay. It has to give at least seven days’ notice before a strike can begin.
Six major British airports, including London’s Heathrow, could shut down when workers decide to walk off their jobs.
“This clear mandate will cause the closedown of six UK airports,” the union said last week.
In addition to Heathrow, the airports are Stansted and Southampton in the London area, and Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in Scotland.

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The Pay-As-You-Go SIM Wiki Outlines Prepaid Data Offerings Overseas

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:16:08 +0000

The Pay-As-You-Go SIM Wiki Outlines Prepaid Data Offerings Overseas [Saving Money]
http://lifehacker.com/5611300/the-pay+as+you+go-sim-wiki-outlines-prepaid-data-offerings-overseas

Going overseas soon, and looking for a prepaid phone plan? Wiki community Wikia has a great wiki that lists information on getting pay-as-you-go data plans for your SIM card (without paying tons of money) all over the world.
Traveling abroad is a great way to expand your cultural horizons, but it can also be a pain, especially when you don’t know any of the cellphone companies or what they charge for mobile data. Instead of searching all over the internet and comparing rates, the Pay-As-You-Go SIM With Data Wiki is an incredible resource that compiles it all in once place.

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Video May Be an Option for Foreigners Seeking Visas

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:06:34 +0000

Video May Be an Option for Foreigners Seeking Visas – In Transit Blog – NYTimes.com
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/video-may-be-an-option-for-foreigners-seeking-visas/?partner=rss

A pilot program that would allow foreign visitors to the United States to apply for visas via video conference gained traction late last month, when it won approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee.
It is expected to be considered by the full Senate in the coming months and if approved would be conducted over a two-year period, according to an aide in the office of Senator Mary L. Landrieu, who has headed the effort.
The program has received wide support from the travel industry because it is expected to stimulate tourism by reducing wait and travel time for an interview.

(via Instapaper)

It is amazing what technology can do. This will surely help with the long queues and wait times, trust me. It took me the better part of a day to go through the process of applying for a US visa.

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