Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Three Airport Travel Apps That Work, Save Time, Make Flying Fun]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/22/three-airport-travel-apps-that-work-save-time-make-flying-fun/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/22/three-airport-travel-apps-that-work-save-time-make-flying-fun/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/22/three-airport-travel-apps-that-work-save-time-make-flying-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jane Starz/Flickr
Airport travel apps for smart phones and tablets are must-have items for some air travelers, much like that phone itself. But it is easy to get over-apped and have three different sources texting the fact that we have landed, that the flight is running late or that it is time to check in. Choosing the best ones can be more difficult than using them. Here are some tested, but not necessarily popular, airport apps that can save time and make flying fun.

Seat Alerts - Airplane Seat Monitoring and Alerting By ExpertFlyer.com is a must-have for anyone who has ever booked the last seat on a flight or been stuck in the middle with no way out. Monitoring flight information the user inputs, Seat Alerts sounds off if/when aisle or window seats open up on that flight. The free version gets one seat alert at a time. Multiple alerts are available for purchase. Seat maps also include recently updated SeatGuru seat ratings. Seats may not open up, but it's worth trying.

Airports by TravelNerd By NerdWallet
Airports puts all the information on the 70 most popular airports in one easy-to-use app. Other apps have basic terminal maps and real-time flight tracking but this one adds much more detail and has information on ground transportation, airport parking options (with coupons), Wi-Fi availability and pricing, airport restaurant, shop and lounge hours and locations along with an Offline mode that works without a signal.

Continue reading Three Airport Travel Apps That Work, Save Time, Make Flying Fun

Three Airport Travel Apps That Work, Save Time, Make Flying Fun originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport travelairport travel appsairportsAirportTravelAirportTravelAppsappsFlight modePre-checkRedundancySciTechSeatGurutravel appsTravelAppsTSAWi-FiWed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Summer Travel Bargains, Available Now During Brief Buying 'Sweet Spot']]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/summer-travel-bargains-available-now-during-brief-buying-sweet/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/summer-travel-bargains-available-now-during-brief-buying-sweet/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/summer-travel-bargains-available-now-during-brief-buying-sweet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Moyan_Brenn/ Flickr
Summer travel season is right around the corner but exciting travel opportunities are often limited by price. There are plenty of places to go, but they are often priced out of reach. Still, with some research and timing, summer travel bargains are out there right now. Why? Sellers of travel want occupancy and booking levels to be at a certain target number right about now. If the numbers are not where they want them to be, they bring on the discounts to shore up summer season bookings. Here are some we found as standout bargains.

Disney World, Discounted
Summer is usually a popular time to visit Florida's Walt Disney World and this year is no exception. Many families have to do vacations during the summer, when kids are out of school, most often driving prices up. Still, with hotel capacity running a bit ahead of reservations, deals are out there. Savings of 30 percent on select Disney hotels on Disney property, free dining with a hotel and ticket package, and more can be found at Disney's Special Offers webpage.

Hike the Blue Mountains in Jamaica
Strawberry Hill is offering guests 25 percent off rates for stays through October 31 with its "Discover the Blue Mountains" package. The three-night stay includes two hikes on Gordon Town Trail and Settlement Trail, daily breakfast, a fruit and cheese welcome amenity, dinner with a bottle of wine, daily Blackwell Rum cocktail and a spa treatment. Don't come home without a pound or two of that Blue Mountain coffee.

Continue reading Summer Travel Bargains, Available Now During Brief Buying 'Sweet Spot'

Summer Travel Bargains, Available Now During Brief Buying 'Sweet Spot' originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bahamasBlue MountainsBritish Islesbudget travelBudgetTravelCanary Islandscaribbean cruiseCaribbeanCruisecheap summer travelcheap travelCheapSummerTravelCheapTravelCrystal CruisesFloridainexpensive travelInexpensiveTravelJamaican Blue Mountain CoffeeMediterranean Seasummersummer discountssummer travelSummerDiscountsSummerTravelThe BahamasThe Walt Disney Companytraveltravel discountsTravelDiscountsWalt DisneyWalt Disney World ResortWestern EuropeTue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nearly Constant Connectivity Almost Here, Right Now]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/nearly-constant-connectivity-almost-here-right-now/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/nearly-constant-connectivity-almost-here-right-now/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/nearly-constant-connectivity-almost-here-right-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

rayand/Flickr
Being connected when traveling is getting easier all the time. As new technology rolls out, travelers worldwide find connecting to Wi-Fi hot spots easier than ever. Pricing is becoming more reasonable too, enabling more to enjoy constant connectivity wherever they may travel. The need is there and technology companies are delivering, as I found out on a recent international trip.

On land, Comcast has a new program for hotels, offering reliable, high-performance bandwidth that can easily scale up to meet increased demand. Prices are starting to come down too, as hotel chains provide complimentary Internet access to members of their loyalty programs. Look for more of the same as travelers list having to pay for Internet access second only to noisy neighbors as the most annoying part of staying at a hotel in a recent survey.

Air travelers have been connecting over the continental United States for years. Now they do it less expensively with day and hourly passes and bundled services from companies like GoGo Internet. Soon, American Airlines and others will add access over the Atlantic Ocean for international travelers. Through May 21, 2013, American had provided free International Internet access as they worked out the bugs. Going forward, American will offer a "duration of the flight" pass over international waters for $19.

Continue reading Nearly Constant Connectivity Almost Here, Right Now

Nearly Constant Connectivity Almost Here, Right Now originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4GAmerican AirlinesAmtrakAtlantic OceanComcastconnectivityconstant connectivityConstantConnectivityFinanceInternet accessItalyMS Oasis of the SeasNorth AmericaRoyal Caribbean Cruises LtdSciTechsmart phonesmartphoneUnited StatesWi-FiMon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Ship Cruises Not For You? New Cruise Line Has You In Mind]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/big-ship-cruises-not-for-you-new-cruise-line-has-you-in-mind/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/big-ship-cruises-not-for-you-new-cruise-line-has-you-in-mind/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/big-ship-cruises-not-for-you-new-cruise-line-has-you-in-mind/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Viking Oceans
Cruise travelers who are turned off by the big ship ocean cruising experience or just want to try something different, increasingly turn to a river cruise. On tiny ships, they ply the waters of European rivers, sailing directly to iconic destinations. Viking River Cruises is a major player in that arena and is quite successful at what they do. With other cruise lines, that success would be a win and they would continue to do what they do best. Vikings, however, look at that sort of thing a bit differently. As in ancient times, the Vikings of today are charged with exploring new worlds. Viking River Cruises intends to do just that, sailing new ships that will be custom built to redefine ocean cruising.

At a gala event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Viking River Cruises effectively became Viking Cruises and split off into a company with two distinct focuses. Viking Rivers will continue to sail their popular longships with a rapidly expanding fleet. Viking Oceans will build a fleet of ocean-going ships that will begin with a new 928-passenger ocean liner, Viking Star. The new ship will set sail in 2015 visiting ports of call around the perimeter of Europe that river cruise ships can't get to.

"There is a hole in the market somebody should fill," said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen at the same Beverly Hills venue used for the Golden Globe awards. "I feel we invented modern river cruising. Now I hope we can revive the destination part of ocean cruising."
Viking Oceans

To do that, Viking Star will begin with a choice of three summer European itineraries. All sailings will begin and end with overnights in the first and last ports on the itinerary. That's a significant difference to most other lines that board passengers at the first port then sail away a few hours later. On the backside, the last port on other cruise lines is most often never seen by passengers except on the way to the airport. Viking Star will sail to the last port, stay overnight then disembark passengers the next day. Ports between the beginning and end will have more flexibility too as Viking Star will stay there longer, often allowing passengers to experience nightlife, something other lines never allow to happen.

Continue reading Big Ship Cruises Not For You? New Cruise Line Has You In Mind

Big Ship Cruises Not For You? New Cruise Line Has You In Mind originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 19 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Azamara club cruisesAzamara CruisesAzamaraClubCruisesAzamaraCruisesBeverly Hills, CaliforniaBeverly Hilton Hotelbig ship cruisingBigShipCruisingcruisecruise vacationcruisesCruiseVacationcrystal cruisesCrystalCruisesEntertainmentMinnesota Vikingsocean cruiseOceanCruiseriver cruiseRiverCruiseVikingViking OceansViking River CruisesViking RiversVikingOceansVikingRiverCruisesVikingRiversSun, 19 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Mount Currie Reflect]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/photo-of-the-day-mount-currie-reflect/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/photo-of-the-day-mount-currie-reflect/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/photo-of-the-day-mount-currie-reflect/#commentsFiled under:

photo of the day
James Wheeler/Flickr
This interesting Photo of the Day, titled "Mount Currie Reflect," comes from Gadling Flickr pool member James Wheeler and was captured using a Nikon D600.

James captions the image:
Mount Currie towers over the town of Pemberton just north of Whistler. This photo was taken from the edge of the pemberton golf course.

Want to be featured? Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as a Photo of the Day.

Tips for being featured: well, first of all, don't tag your photos as "all rights reserved," which will make them basically untouchable for our Photo of the Day. Also, add a caption describing the image and (better yet) your personal experience when capturing it, details of the photography gear used and any tips you might have for others wanting to emulate your work. I pick the Photo of the Day every Saturday and often tap James Wheeler for some inspiring photography for these very reasons.

Now, you can also submit photos through Instagram; just mention @GadlingTravel and use the hashtag #gadling when posting your images.

Photo Of The Day: Mount Currie Reflect originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 18 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gadling flickr poolGadlingFlickrPooljames wheelerJamesWheelerphoto of the dayphoto tipsphotographyPhotoOfTheDayphotosPhotoTipsSat, 18 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Currency Exchange: What You Use Matters]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/17/currency-exchange-what-you-use-matters/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/17/currency-exchange-what-you-use-matters/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/17/currency-exchange-what-you-use-matters/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

currency exchange
craigfinlay/Flickr
To International travelers, the name Travelex should sound familiar. They are the largest airport currency exchange operator in the world. But a recent currency exchange study comparing the cost of using Travelex, some of the largest U.S. banks and credit cards revealed what experts already knew.

CardHub's 2013 Currency Exchange Study compared the cost of the currency exchange services offered by 15 of the largest banks in the U.S. as well as Visa, MasterCard and Travelex. The study proved that using a no foreign fee credit card is the way to go on spending internationally. Banks charge an average of exchange rate of 7.1% and Travelex charges 15.5%.

Worried about using a credit card outside of the U.S.? Don't be. Credit cards also provide fraud protection for just that reason.

"Even if a consumer uses a credit card with foreign fees - the average foreign transaction fee is 2.24%, according to CardHub's latest Credit Card Landscape Report - he'll still save 4.86% on currency conversion relative to the services offered by banks and 13.26% compared to airport currency exchange providers," said CardHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou in a HeraldOnline report.

The best banks for currency conversion? The CardHub study indicates Northern Trust and Harris Bank lead the pack as they did in the 2012 and 2011 editions of the study while U.S. Bank and SunTrust hold the bottom two spots. On average though, banks are better than Travelex, saving an average 8.4%.

Continue reading Currency Exchange: What You Use Matters

Currency Exchange: What You Use Matters originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bank of Montrealbudget travelBudgetTravelcredit cardsCreditCardscurrency exchangeCurrencyExchangedebit cardsDebitCardsexchange ratesExchangeRatesFinanceMasterCardOdysseas PapadimitrioupickpocketsSunTrust Bankstravel expensestravel securitytravelexTravelExpensesTravelSecurityU.S. BankVeniceFri, 17 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Relaunched Cruise Ships Bring Sunshine and Magic]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/relaunched-cruise-ships-bring-sunshine-and-magic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/relaunched-cruise-ships-bring-sunshine-and-magic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/relaunched-cruise-ships-bring-sunshine-and-magic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disney Cruise Line
In the world of cruise travel, the big story is often about the latest, greatest, biggest cruise ships to be launched and what they have to offer travelers. Those new floating resorts often command the highest fares as cruise travel fans line up to book passage and be one of the first to sail. But while major cruise lines build new ships with the best of what they have to offer, they have not forgotten about their existing fleets. Older ships, relaunched with major updates, can often be one of the best cruise travel values available.

Disney Cruise Line is proud of new Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, the two new ships that more than doubled their fleet capacity. But Disney Magic, first launched in 1998, is not forgotten. The ship has been kept up to date with periodic dry dock maintenance but after living with new features rolled out with Fantasy and Dream, Disney imagineers have taken another look at Disney Magic. The result of that look is an extensive remodel that will bring a host of new reasons to sail the ship.
Disney Cruise Line
Headlining the new features on Disney Magic is The AquaDunk, a 37-foot body slide that starts by taking riders down three decks from Deck 13 to Deck 10 through a translucent tube. That tube extends 20 feet over the side of the ship above the ocean that is over 100 feet below.

We have always been committed to reinvesting in our fleet and continuously making shipboard enhancements that elevate the guest experience," said Karl L. Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line in an Orlando Sentinel article. Marvel comics is now a part of the Disney family of brands, so the Super Hero icons of Marvel have been introduced on Disney Magic as a new space for children. Marvel's Avengers Academy will be a big part of Disney's Oceaneer Club as young crime-fighters are transported to a high-tech command post used by The Avengers for special mission.

Continue reading Relaunched Cruise Ships Bring Sunshine and Magic

Relaunched Cruise Ships Bring Sunshine and Magic originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Avengers AcademyCarnival cruiseCarnival Cruise LinesCarnival DestinyCarnivalCruisecruisecruise shipscruisesCruiseShipsDisney CruiseDisney Cruise LineDisney DreamDisney familyDisney FantasyDisney MagicDisneyCruiseDreamEntertainmentGuy FieriHasbro IncMarvel ComicsPixarThe AvengersThe Walt Disney CompanyThu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Recovery Vacations A Hit With Soldiers Returning From War]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/recovery-vacations-a-hit-with-soldiers-returning-from-war/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/recovery-vacations-a-hit-with-soldiers-returning-from-war/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/recovery-vacations-a-hit-with-soldiers-returning-from-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

a soldier's homecomingTroop Rewards provides recovery vacations to returning U.S. soldiers and their families who served overseas. To do that, Troop Rewards relies on hotels and private vacation property owners to donate unused inventory, sort of like a hotel might release a number of rooms to Priceline for bidding.

This year, Florida's Sandpearl resort is teaming up with Troop Rewards to provide recovery vacations for five military service members who were deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"This is such a great way to honor, remember and reward the servicemen and women who have served and defended our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last ten years," said Tom Burkett, Troop Reward's Executive Director. "To be able to team up with such a beautiful and inspiring resort is icing on the cake."

Continue reading Recovery Vacations A Hit With Soldiers Returning From War

Recovery Vacations A Hit With Soldiers Returning From War originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AfghanistanFloridaIraqIraq WarLocalMemorial Daymilitary recoverymilitary travelmilitary vacationMilitaryRecoveryMilitaryTravelMilitaryVacationOperation Enduring FreedomOperation Iraqi FreedomOperationIraqiFreedomrecovery vacationsRecoveryVacationssoldiersU.S.Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel App Upgrades Add Value, Reduce Frustration]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/travel-app-upgrades-add-value-reduce-frustration/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/travel-app-upgrades-add-value-reduce-frustration/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/travel-app-upgrades-add-value-reduce-frustration/#commentstravel appTaking the skeptical point of view on travel apps can be dangerous. But with so many apps from a variety of sources doing their rendition of the technology du jour, it is easy to dismiss the lot of them as more of the same. Sometimes though, tiny updates to existing apps can make them a valuable addition to our soft travel gear.

Travel Plans In One Place, Now With Ground Options
Subscribers to TripIt, the intelligent travel plan organizer, now have access to a new feature that might make the service more valuable. Already, TripIt users create a trip by defining a travel window period of time in which it occurs. Filling in the details can be as easy as forwarding an email copy of airline, hotel and/or rental car reservations to Plans@TripIt.com, which reads and understands your plans with a high degree of accuracy.

Now, new TripIt feature Groundlink enables users to add ground transportation, coordinated with existing travel plans, from a smartphone. The app has a Track Your Ride feature that Glympse users will feel comfortable with. Groundlink users will pick their drop-off point from a map generated by Groundlink using nearby venues, addresses, ride history or airports. Already armed with up-to-date details of user flight plans, Groundlink will monitor user travels and advise ground transportation services if it looks like their ride might be delayed. Right now, Groundlink is offering 20 percent off rides booked via the TripIt Mobile App.

Continue reading Travel App Upgrades Add Value, Reduce Frustration

Travel App Upgrades Add Value, Reduce Frustration originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airbnbbudget travelBudgetTravelFacebookGlympseGroundLinkiPadKyle Ellisonmoney-saving appMoney-savingAppSciTechtravel apptravel appsTravelAppTravelAppsTripItWikipediaTue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying With Rude Passengers: Survey Asks What Would You Do]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/flying-with-rude-passengers-survey-asks-what-would-you-do/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/flying-with-rude-passengers-survey-asks-what-would-you-do/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/flying-with-rude-passengers-survey-asks-what-would-you-do/#commentsFiled under: , ,

rude passengersSay you're on a plane, sitting in a middle seat, and the rude passengers on both sides of you are in command of the arm wrests. Do you say something? Ask a flight attendant to help? Say nothing and live with it? Or are you just not sure? If you are like a lot of people, you say nothing according to a fifth annual nationwide survey that asked Americans how they would handle uncomfortable but common air travel situations.

Nearly half those surveyed (48.9%) would say nothing to their arm-wrest hogging neighbors with about a quarter saying they would stand up for the space they paid for either by saying something to their overflowing seatmate (27.9%) or asking a flight attendant (2.7%) for help. The remaining 20.6 % were just not sure about it.

Continue reading Flying With Rude Passengers: Survey Asks What Would You Do

Flying With Rude Passengers: Survey Asks What Would You Do originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairline passengersAirlinePassengersairlinesFlickrflyingrude airline passengersrude passengersRudeAirlinePassengersRudePassengerssurveyMon, 13 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Cruise Line Sets Sail In 2014 With Small, Luxury Ships]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/new-cruise-line-sets-sail-in-2014-with-small-luxury-ships/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/new-cruise-line-sets-sail-in-2014-with-small-luxury-ships/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/13/new-cruise-line-sets-sail-in-2014-with-small-luxury-ships/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

new cruise lineNew cruise lines are about as rare as new hotel chains; there is just not a lot of action on that topic. Like hotel chains, airlines and other travel-related companies, most cruise lines have been around for a long time too. Still, there are those who see a need in the marketplace that existing companies just can't fill. Such is the feel of new Pearl Sea Cruises, which will set sail in 2014 cruising the Canadian Maritimes, New England and the Caribbean.

Starting out by building just one new ship, the 210-passenger Pearl Mist, Pearl Seas Cruises will operate various seven-, 10- and 11-night Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Canadian Maritimes and New England cruises during their 2014 inaugural season.

Continue reading New Cruise Line Sets Sail In 2014 With Small, Luxury Ships

New Cruise Line Sets Sail In 2014 With Small, Luxury Ships originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BaltimoreCaribbeancruisecruise vacationscruisesCruiseVacationsEast CoastEast Coast of the United StatesGeorgian BayGreat LakesGreatLakesMaritimesMarylandnew cruise lineNew EnglandNewCruiseLineNorth AmericaNova ScotiaQuebecSaint Lawrence Seawaysmall shipssmall-ship cruisingSmall-shipCruisingSmallShipsSt. Lawrence SeawaySt.LawrenceSeawayThousand IslandsMon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amusement Park Ride Breaks Seven World Records, Inverted]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/amusement-park-ride-breaks-seven-world-records-inverted/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/amusement-park-ride-breaks-seven-world-records-inverted/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/amusement-park-ride-breaks-seven-world-records-inverted/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As amusement park rides go, there are roller coasters and then there is the Gatekeeper, where riders sit as if on the wings of a plane 170 feet above ground. Experiencing sharp turns, inversions and rolls, Gatekeeper creates the feeling of weightlessness, sending riders turning and twisting at speeds of nearly 70 miles per hour.

Gatekeeper is the latest ride at Ohio's Cedar Point amusement park, voted the Best Amusement Park in the World for 15 consecutive years by the readers of Amusement Today. Taking more than 12 million pounds of concrete to build, the Gatekeeper is the park's premiere attraction but not the only coaster making up nearly 10 miles of track. Cedar Point boasts a whopping 16 different roller coasters with names like Wicked Twister, Raptor, Magnum XL-200 and the Corkscrew. But Gatekeeper is unique.

"GateKeeper is unlike anything our guests have experienced before," said John Hildebrandt, Cedar Point's Vice President and General Manager in a NorthwestOhio.com article.

Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland, GateKeeper breaks seven world records, including the longest track (4,164 feet), tallest drop (164 feet) and most inversions of any wing roller coaster in the world.

Amusement Park Ride Breaks Seven World Records, Inverted originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amusement parkAmusement TodayAmusementParkBolliger MabillardCedar PointCorkscrewGateKeeperMagnum XL-200Raptortheme parksThemeParksWicked TwisterSun, 12 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Spot Of White]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/11/photo-of-the-day-spot-of-white/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/11/photo-of-the-day-spot-of-white/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/11/photo-of-the-day-spot-of-white/#commentsFiled under: , ,

photo of the day
This interesting Photo of the Day, titled "Spot of White," comes from Gadling Flickr pool member Mark Fischer and was captured in Bangkok's Siam Square using a Nikon D90.

Mark captions the image:

"On Sunday, May 8th, 2011, an estimated 100,000 people attended a ceremony to give alms to 12,600 monks in front of CentralWorld in downtown Bangkok. Almsgiving is a daily event in Thailand and is a way for lay people to support the monks and to gain merit. This ceremony was organized as a symnbolic and practical gesture of support for 286 temples in Southern Thailand. Monks at those temples are unable to collect alms due to the risk of being shot and killed. The food and other items collected here will be sent to support the temples in the South."


Want to be featured? Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as a Photo of the Day.

Tips for being featured: add a caption describing the image and (better yet) your personal experience when capturing it, details of the photography gear used and any tips you might have for others wanting to emulate your work.

Now, you can also submit photos through Instagram; just mention @GadlingTravel and use the hashtag #gadling when posting your images.

[Photo Credit Gadling Flickr pool member Mark Fischer]

Photo Of The Day: Spot Of White originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BangkokCentralWorldEntertainmentFlickrInstagramMark FischerNikon D90Photo of the dayphotographyPhotoOfTheDayphotosSciTechSiam SquareSouthern ThailandthailandSat, 11 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Airline Hopes To Avoid Volcanic Ash Clouds With New Technology]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/airline-hopes-to-avoid-volcanic-ash-clouds-with-new-technology/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/airline-hopes-to-avoid-volcanic-ash-clouds-with-new-technology/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/airline-hopes-to-avoid-volcanic-ash-clouds-with-new-technology/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

volcanic ashVolcanic ash is something commercial airliners want nothing to do with. When Alaska's Cleveland volcano erupted not long ago, shooting low levels of ash into the atmosphere, many airlines were concerned. Another blast could send ash higher, directly into their flight path between Asia and North America, causing major flight schedule disruptions. But while most airlines watch and wait, one is taking some proactive steps to deal with volcanic activity.

Ash clouds are a major problem for commercial airliners, which can literally fall out of the sky if they attempt to fly through one. The problem is the tiny volcanic ash particles. If they get into a jet engine, ash particles can block the ventilation holes that let in air to cool the engine. Accumulate enough of them and engine heat can transform the particles back into molten lava, something you don't want in your jet engine. In 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano ejected an ash plume 30,000 feet into the sky, crippling airlines in northwest Europe for days as nearly 20 airports closed their airspace.

Continue reading Airline Hopes To Avoid Volcanic Ash Clouds With New Technology

Airline Hopes To Avoid Volcanic Ash Clouds With New Technology originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging DetectorAirborneVolcanicObjectImagingDetectorAirbusairlinersairlinesAshAVOIDcommercial aircraftCommercialAircraftEasyJeteasyJet PlcEasyjetPlcEyjafjallajökullfly through ashFlyThroughAshIcelandMount ClevelandNicarnicaSciTechvolcanic ashVolcanicAshvolcano cloudVolcanoCloudFri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Memorial Day Travel Events Bring Discounts]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/memorial-day-travel-events-bring-discounts/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/memorial-day-travel-events-bring-discounts/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/memorial-day-travel-events-bring-discounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Memorial DayAs Memorial Day approaches, travelers are taking advantage of some special offers and events exclusive to the three-day weekend that officially begins on Friday, May 24. Discounts, special offers and events this year are available at a number of locations around the United States as America remembers the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Additionally, those in uniform have a variety of special discounts and offers.

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a promotion that provides active and former military personnel with discounts of up to $600 per stateroom and shipboard credits of up to $100 per stateroom on a range of three- to 12-day sailings. Sister-line Princess cruises continues their Special Military Program, giving those who served up to $250 onboard credit on any sailing.

May is also National Military Appreciation Month and Florida's Fantasy of Flight museum is offering complimentary admission to all active-duty, retired and reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces when accompanied by a full-priced paid adult, senior or child general admission throughout the month of May.

Not a military member? There are still some Memorial Day promotions for you too.

Continue reading Memorial Day Travel Events Bring Discounts

Memorial Day Travel Events Bring Discounts originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaliforniaCarnival Cruise LinesDisney California Adventure ParkDisneylandFantasy of FlightFlickrFloridaMagic KingdomMammoth Mountain Ski AreaMemorial DayMemorialDayNortheast RegionalPatriot DayPrincess CruisesThe Walt Disney CompanyUnited StatesUnited States armed forcesWalt DisneyWest CoastThu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin 'See-Through' Uniforms Not A Big Hit With Workers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/virgin-see-through-uniforms-not-a-big-hit-with-workers/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/virgin-see-through-uniforms-not-a-big-hit-with-workers/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/09/virgin-see-through-uniforms-not-a-big-hit-with-workers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

virginVirgin Trains, the UK rail arm of Richard Branson's Virgin Group promotes what they do as a faster, more comfortable and greener way to travel. Virgin believes that rail has a clear role to play in sustainable transport and they want to lead the charge. Choosing to minimize the negative and accentuate the positive, Virgin Trains takes social responsibility seriously. Uniforms on their employees? Not so much, unless prompted to do so.

The new uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood, are currently on hold because they expose the underwear of female staff members. The Telegraph reports the uniforms are described as "flimsy" and "see-through" via complaints to Manuel Cortes, leader of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association trade union. But Virgin has an answer.

Applying a similar strategy where they "want to challenge assumptions, solve problems and deliver innovative solutions," as Virgin Trains says on their website, the company gave each staff member a £20 voucher to buy suitable undergarments.

Continue reading Virgin 'See-Through' Uniforms Not A Big Hit With Workers

Virgin 'See-Through' Uniforms Not A Big Hit With Workers originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FlickrRichard Bransonsee-through uniformsSee-throughUniformsskimpy uniformsSkimpyUniformstrainsTransport Salaried Staffs AssociationVirginVirgin GroupVirgin TrainsVirginTrainsVivienne WestwoodThu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure Travel Meets Luxury, In The Arctic]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/07/adventure-travel-meets-luxury-in-the-arctic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/07/adventure-travel-meets-luxury-in-the-arctic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/07/adventure-travel-meets-luxury-in-the-arctic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

adventure travelThe idea of "adventure travel" is hot and those who sell travel know it. Travelers who lead an active lifestyle as a big part of their everyday life want to continue that focus when traveling. Local adventurers who might camp, hike, hunt, ski or bike around where they live, want the thrill of doing that in an amazing place somewhere else on the planet. Even travelers once satisfied with a pre-packaged land tour or the standard fare on a Caribbean cruise want more. Only one problem: not everyone who likes the idea of adventure travel is equipped to handle it. But they still want it.

Enter land tour operator Abercrombie and Kent, known for safe and luxurious safari-like travel packages with a hefty price tag.

Offering more than a lazy man's adventure, Abercrombie and Kent (A&K) recently announced a 2014 lineup of cruises to the Arctic. These luxury versions of the frigid expedition sailings for hearty explorers, normally associated with that part of the world, might very well be just what the pseudo-adventure traveler has in mind too.

On their July 29, 2014, sailing - Arctic Cruise Norway: Polar Bears & Midnight Sun - A&K guides take their guests to see polar bears, walrus and reindeer from the northern shores of Norway to the Svalbard Archipelago and Spitsbergen (AKA the last stop before the North pole), setting foot on the coastal city of Tromsø and the polar bear stomping grounds of Nordaustlandet. The 12-day adventure starts at $8,995.

Continue reading Adventure Travel Meets Luxury, In The Arctic

Adventure Travel Meets Luxury, In The Arctic originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alaska Volcano It's been nearly two years since scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warned that Alaska's Cleveland volcano could erupt at any time, issuing a code yellow eruption advisory. Saturday, those scientists were proven more than right.

"We haven't seen a phase like this where we've had multiple explosions," Rick Wessels, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano Observatory, told Reuters in a Christian Science Monitor report.

Over the weekend, the Cleveland volcano erupted, spewing gas, steam and low levels of ash 15,000 feet into the atmosphere, directly into the commercial airline flight path between Asia and North America. While disruption in the atmosphere at 15,000 feet is well below the normal 35,000 feet cruising altitude of commercial aircraft, the concern is that further eruptions could disrupt air traffic, much like Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano (pictured) did in 2010.

Continue reading Alaska Volcano Erupts, Air Travel Disruption Possible

Alaska Volcano Erupts, Air Travel Disruption Possible originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air travelairlinesAirTravelAlaskaAlaska VolcanoAlaska Volcano ObservatoryAlaskaVolcanoEyjafjallajökullIcelandMount ClevelandSciTechtravel disruptionsTravelDisruptionsUnited States Geological SurveyWorldMon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel-Related Websites That Really Engage Their Customers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/06/travel-related-websites-that-really-engage-their-customers/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/06/travel-related-websites-that-really-engage-their-customers/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/06/travel-related-websites-that-really-engage-their-customers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

travel-related web sitesThey all talk about it. "Like us on Facebook," "Follow us on Twitter" and "Read our blog," say travel-related websites selling everything from guidebooks to airline flights, gear and gum. Many give us little reason to like them, follow them or do anything other than buy their products on the way to the next online destination. But some travel seller sites actually do put some time and effort into creating a reason to visit other than to buy something.

The task of buying a hotel room for a night is easy to define. The short list of variables includes location, price and availability. Easy. Any number of search sites can gather that information, whirl it around and present viable options. Hotel.info does more. On their blog we find The Ultimate Guide To Cooking In Your Hotel Room that brings us unique, interesting content that in and of itself is a good reason to visit their site.

Continue reading Travel-Related Websites That Really Engage Their Customers

Travel-Related Websites That Really Engage Their Customers originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engagingengaging sitesEngagingSitesEntertainmentExpedia IncFacebookhotel.infoKayakmoney-saving sitesMoney-savingSitessaving on travelSavingOnTravelSciTechsocial mediaSocialMediatravel sitestravel web sitestravel-related web sitesTravel-relatedWebSitesTravelocityTravelSitesTravelWebSitesTwitterViatorMon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar Airplane Completes First Leg Of Cross-Country Flight]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/solar-airplane-completes-first-leg-of-cross-country-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/solar-airplane-completes-first-leg-of-cross-country-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/solar-airplane-completes-first-leg-of-cross-country-flight/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Solar AirplaneSolar Impulse, the solar airplane that was set to fly across the United States, has taken off and completed the first leg of the journey from California to Arizona. Averaging an altitude of just 10,000 feet and a speed of 40.6 miles per hour, the flight took most of a day to complete. Technically, 14,000 people were on board, albeit virtually via streaming video.

Launching the "Clean Generation" initiative by completing the first leg of their 2013 Across America mission, Pilot Bertrand Piccard took off from Moffett Airfield at NASA's Ames Research Center early Saturday morning, arriving at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport 18 hours and 18 minutes later.

Promoting greater investment in technologies for sustainable energy production and use, Piccard and Solar Impulse co-founder André Borschberg will alternate flying the five legs of the trip.

Continue reading Solar Airplane Completes First Leg Of Cross-Country Flight

Solar Airplane Completes First Leg Of Cross-Country Flight originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ames Research CenterAndré BorschbergAndréBorschbergAndré BorschbergAndréBorschbergBertrand PiccardCaliforniaFinanceFort Worth, TexasJohn F. Kennedy International AirportNASANASAs Ames Research CenterNasasAmesResearchCenterSolar AirplaneSolar ImpulseSolarAirplaneSt. Louis, MissouriUnited StatesWashington, D.C.Sun, 05 May 2013 15:00:00 EST