Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How to effectively complain about your trip via Twitter]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/how-to-effectively-complain-about-your-trip-via-twitter/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/how-to-effectively-complain-about-your-trip-via-twitter/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/how-to-effectively-complain-about-your-trip-via-twitter/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now that airlines have all jumped onto the social media bandwagon, we constantly hear about miracle stories of lone customers being helped out by a Twitter plea for help. Deep from the soul of the faceless empire, airlines and hotels have been reaching out and virtually hugging stranded travelers, breathing life into the ether and ushering the free radicals back out into their corrected itineraries. It feels great to be loved, doesn't it?

What a powerful tool this Twitter is. A few well written comments to ten thousand listeners can spread vitriol quite quickly, so even if a customer's ire is misplaced it's important for companies to respond. And once they reach out, those 10,000 ears hear the praise. Southwest, for example, reached out directly when a traveler posted a comment complaining about the check-in procedure at the airport. Though they couldn't disperse the queue, their attention turned a negative situation on its side, comforting the traveler and ultimately winning credibility.

Before you run off criticizing every facet of your trip to @AAirwaves and @MarriottIntl though, think about your approach. While Twitter is a great tool for delivering a concise message to corporate America, if you want results you're going to need to frame yourself correctly. Here's how:

Continue reading How to effectively complain about your trip via Twitter

How to effectively complain about your trip via Twitter originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mediatwitterThu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In the Wild Wild West: Dine in a trailer park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/in-the-wild-wild-west-dine-in-a-trailer-park/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/in-the-wild-wild-west-dine-in-a-trailer-park/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/16/in-the-wild-wild-west-dine-in-a-trailer-park/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The new trend on dining out in Austin, Texas is in trailer parks. Street food trailer parks, to be exact. Warm, temperate weather makes the capital of Austin an excellent destination for outdoor eating, so why not plant a few street food stalls in permanent slots and let the masses come forth?

South Austin's Trailer Park and Eatery is a series of several, small street food stands parked on a dusty lot on South 1st St. At just over one mile from the capitol building, it's packed on a Sunday morning, imported cars and strollers stuffing the small parking lot as patrons wait in line for a greasy taco or hot dog. A fan of picnic tables snarl out from the village, constantly populated by families and hungover youth, ravenously feasting on their morning fare.

Arguably the most popular trailer at this spot is from Torchy's Tacos, an Austin favorite for well done and better priced tex-mex fare. Breakfast tacos will set you back a solid $2.50, while perennial favorites such as the Democrat (shredded beef barbacoa and onions topped off with fresh avocado, queso fresco, cilantro and a lime wedge served on a corn tortilla with house green salsa) cost an easy $4. First hand, it doesn't get much better than this.

In the Wild Wild West: Dine in a trailer park originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austintacostex-mextexaswildwildwestMon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Up in the Air: George Clooney becomes a frequent flyer]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/up-in-the-air-george/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/up-in-the-air-george/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/up-in-the-air-george/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trailers for Up in the Air with George Clooney started surfacing on my desk this week, and I must admit, I'm eying them with curiosity, fear and interest.

I'm curious and interested because in a way, the film narrates the lives of many people I know, perhaps myself included, the life of a person always on the move who travels light -- both physically and metaphorically.

What I'm afraid I'll see is how these people are portrayed, the hollowness and vanity that sometimes comes with frequent travel and how this is reflected onto myself. Watching the trailers now available on YouTube, much of the dialogue rings familiar, even if it doesn't apply to my personal life:

"Do you know that moment when you look into somebody's eyes and you can feel them staring into your soul and the whole world goes quiet?"

"Yes!"

"Well, I don't."

But as all Hollywood movies go, I'm sure that Up in the Air will have a perfect ending and lesson learned, with all of us feeling as if we're that clever, attractive businessman that finds love and starts life afresh.

I'm looking forward to the film.



Nice work on the product placement by the way. In this two minute trailer I saw American Airlines, Blackberry, Hilton, Travelpro and Mastercard. Incidentally, that shot of Clooney in front of the 747 and fountain was shot at Detroit's Delta terminal.

Up in the Air: George Clooney becomes a frequent flyer originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilesgeorge clooneyGeorgeClooneyWed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Frequent Flyer Master -- A product review]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/frequent-flyer-master-a-product-review/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/frequent-flyer-master-a-product-review/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/frequent-flyer-master-a-product-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've ever heard of the brand The Art of Non-Conformity you may have heard of Chris Guillebeau. Self described as a man who "writes, travels and helps people take over the world," Guillebeau is a frequent traveler, speaker, entrepreneur and all-around social maven out in the blog and Twitter sphere. Among his claims to fame are a host of online guides for purchase, speaking on topics from successfully working at home to how to make money as an artist.

His latest is called Frequent Flyer Master, and it's a guide to maximizing your earned frequent flyer miles, or as he puts it, "democratizing free travel."

Earlier this week Mr. Guillebeau asked me to take a look, so as a frequent traveler myself I accepted a free copy of the $49 guide for a review.

Am I now a frequent flyer mile guru? Has my life changed? Has abject foreshadowing already ruined my review? Find out more below.

Continue reading Frequent Flyer Master -- A product review

Frequent Flyer Master -- A product review originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilesreviewstravel reviewstravel-techTravelReviewsWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are the economics of Twitter airfares worth it?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/are-the-economics-of-twitter-airfares-worth-it/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/are-the-economics-of-twitter-airfares-worth-it/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/are-the-economics-of-twitter-airfares-worth-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

More and more budget-travel tipsters are pointing towards Twitter, Facebook and social media outlets as the source for wild cheap airfares these days. And it's true, in a way. By subscribing to the pundit feeds online it's possible to get the inside scoop on a few good routes, often saving a few shekels on a future itinerary.

Broad, dirt cheap fares (sometimes called bingos), however, are harder to pin down. You've probably heard about the one guy who got a $7 airfare to Iceland or the other woman who flew to Buenos Aires for $40. These (mistake) fares usually occur two or three times a year and more often than not, last less than 24 hours. Yet these are the tickets that fuel the pundit followers.

Now, with the proliferation of active Twitterers, Flyertalk and Slickdeals, bingo fares are becoming harder and harder to find. Rick Seaney (@rickseaney) is a great example. The CEO of Farecompare has access to a broad spectrum of ticket data before it gets sent to travel agents like Orbitz and Expedia and as such, has a virtual crystal-ball into airfares that are going to soon be available. Great position to Tweet from, right? But can't the airlines follow the same feed? Could they perhaps pay Mr. Seaney to find mistakes before we do? It's not unlikely.

Continue reading Are the economics of Twitter airfares worth it?

Are the economics of Twitter airfares worth it? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airfareairplanebudget-travelcheap ticketsCheapTicketstwitterWed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On the road in Oregon with the 2010 Cadillac SRX]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/on-the-road-in-oregon-with-the-2010-cadillac-srx/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/on-the-road-in-oregon-with-the-2010-cadillac-srx/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/on-the-road-in-oregon-with-the-2010-cadillac-srx/#commentsFiled under:



Earlier this year, Gadling ran a promotion challenging readers to define their perfect road trip. The winner of the competition won a two day road trip of their choice in a brand new Cadillac SRX, with fuel, lodging and airfare all covered. We had a wealth of excellent entries ranging from trips through the Florida Keys to leaf tours through the Northeast to jaunts down the California coast, but our lucky winner chose a long road trip through the great state of Oregon, beginning in the metropolis of Portland then working down the coast to Crater Lake National Park.

Dilligent bloggers as we are, we sent a team to follow in the footprints, documenting the journey and consuming the Oregon asphault in a similar SRX.

What emerged was more than a simple road trip through the Northwest. Two old friends on the hilly backroads of Oregon experienced one of the finest states that America has to offer, a perfect cross section of city, country, desert, forest, good people, better food and a few beers along the way.

A remarkable, moving experience, our journey began in Portland.

Gallery: Cadillac SRX in Oregon

Continue reading On the road in Oregon with the 2010 Cadillac SRX

On the road in Oregon with the 2010 Cadillac SRX originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010srxcadillaccrossovernorth americaNorthAmericaoregonportlandroad tripRoadTripsrxSUVUSATue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fun with your global positioning system: GPS drawing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/fun-with-your-global-positioning-system-gps-drawing/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/fun-with-your-global-positioning-system-gps-drawing/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/fun-with-your-global-positioning-system-gps-drawing/#commentsFiled under:

GPS systems are everywhere these days, thanks largely in part due to ubiquidous iPhones and Blackberries. The technology, proper, isn't very cumbersome either -- one can get a GPS chip small enough to uplink into a laptop computer or even to tie to a dog. That's what Jeremy Wood did in the below video, creating a virtual map of two dogs running around a park in Oxford.

Me and You from Jeremy Wood on Vimeo.

It's all part of his project over at GPS Drawing where Mr. Wood has collected oodles of drawings created by adventurous GPS owners and a lot of spare time. Excellent examples are the Elephant in Brighton, UK and Mosquito (!) from Bangkok, Thailand. See if you can do better next time you're out on the road.

Fun with your global positioning system: GPS drawing originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokgpsgps drawinggps-dayGpsDrawingthailandMon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Continental moves to Star Alliance -- your impact as an everyday traveler]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/continental-moves-to-star-alliance-your-impact-as-an-everyday/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/continental-moves-to-star-alliance-your-impact-as-an-everyday/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/continental-moves-to-star-alliance-your-impact-as-an-everyday/#commentsContinental Airlines finally made its big move to the Star Alliance last week, a long awaited, much talked about transition from its former partnership with Delta and Northwest Airlines. It's a move that will affect the way that you earn and spend frequent flyer miles across the board, but what does it mean immediately to the every day traveler?

On the surface, not much. Continental will remain the best legacy airline in the country, with onboard meals, top notch service and a happy customer base just like before. Most routes and services wont change but for a few ads and partnership banners here and there. So the infrequent traveler who just wants to get from point A to point B has little to read further into.

For the more frequent traveler, its time to take another look at your frequent flyer account. Star Alliance's network is huge (especially overseas,) and there are now a wide spectrum of airlines and awards on which you can earn and spend your Continental miles. It's worth taking a look at the Star Alliance webpage to see which airlines are involved and how you can earn miles on them.

It's also important to check your current bookings to make sure that the proper frequent flyer number is loaded. Obviously, none of the Skyteam Alliance members will now earn miles on Continental, while flights on United and US Airways will. For the ten minutes that you spend proofreading your itineraries, you could earn a ton of extra miles, so go ahead and do it now. We'll be here when you get back.

Continental moves to Star Alliance -- your impact as an everyday traveler originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplanecontinentalcontinental airlinesContinentalAirlinesstar allicanceStarAllicanceunitedSun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Man reconstructs entire Pan Am first class cabin in LA condo]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/man-reconstructs-entire-pan-am-first-class-cabin-in-la-condo/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/man-reconstructs-entire-pan-am-first-class-cabin-in-la-condo/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/man-reconstructs-entire-pan-am-first-class-cabin-in-la-condo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Airline nostalgia is a hobby of many hobbyists out in the travel world. I know that I've got an unwrapped deck of NWA playing cards from a 747 flight before the airline merged with Delta, and others I've met have collected things ranging from silverware to barf bags to life vests.

Never, however, have I seen someone collect an entire first class cabin.

As it turns out, it can be done. Anthony Toth, a sales director at United Airlines has been working on his mock-up of a Pan-Am first class cabin for twenty years. Reconstructed in his Los Angeles garage with original vintage and reconstructed materials, the model is a near replica of the Pan-Am cabins from yore, down to the flatware, seat covers and almonds.

Right now he uses the $50,000 investment to host friends and colleagues from United, but some day Mr Toth hopes to turn the mock-up into a museum. With the broad legacy that Pan-Am has left upon the current airline world, it would be a shame for it to be used otherwise.

Check out the Wall St. Journal link below for actual pictures.

Man reconstructs entire Pan Am first class cabin in LA condo originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplanemodelmuseumpan-amMon, 26 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Relive 1960's air travel with Plane Talk]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/relive-1960s-air-travel-with-plane-talk/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/relive-1960s-air-travel-with-plane-talk/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/relive-1960s-air-travel-with-plane-talk/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's fun looking back at the way that air travel used to be in the 60's. We all love to reminisce about the good old days of "space" in first class, three course meals, pianos and smoking lounges, but things as simple as the airline paint schemes, styles and strategies are always fascinating to revisit.

Watching this video about the industry, one finds himself marveling at the optimism and difference between air travel back then and today. "Why aren't you charging that man to standby on an earlier flight? What is this strange customer service that I see before me?"

Irrespective of your feelings for the new or old airline industry, "Plane Talk" is still an interesting and entertaining watch. Take a look below:

Relive 1960's air travel with Plane Talk originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>videovintagevintage airplanevintage travelVintageAirplaneVintageTravelMon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A closer look at Vintage America]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/a-closer-look-at-vintage-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/a-closer-look-at-vintage-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/26/a-closer-look-at-vintage-america/#commentsVintage America. It's a concept that many are familiar with but that few are experts on. Plugging the topic into Google brings up dozens of hits on a Nine West marketing campaign featuring faux fur boots and interlock stud belts -- not quite the dusty old streets and aging neighborhoods that the traveler has in mind.

Today, Gadling is becoming the experts. Our nation is rife with history, culture and depth, thousands of small towns across the country relics from the industrial revolution, the gold rush, manifest destiny. Textile mills have risen and fallen the the Northeast, steel through the Midwest and logging through the Northwest, each boom brining a small fury of growth, prosperity and small facet of American history.

Today we'll be taking a ride through a few vintage corners of our American lives, roaming through film, photography and more than a few destinations along the way. It should be a great old-school journey through a country that once was and in many cases, still can be. We hope you enjoy it.

A closer look at Vintage America originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>vintage americaVintageAmericaMon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How do <em>you</em> prepare for your flight?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/25/how-do-em-you-em-prepare-for-your-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/25/how-do-em-you-em-prepare-for-your-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/25/how-do-em-you-em-prepare-for-your-flight/#commentsFiled under: ,

Everyone has their own pre-flight ritual to make the upcoming torture bearable. I personally wander over to the lounge, check my email and try to make sure that I'm top of all of my active projects. Others have a more, well, active ritual. This guy at LAX was drawing such a crowd that someone pulled out his camera to film the spectacle. Take a look:


Perhaps if we all did this before our flights we'd no longer have angry passengers and cranky flight attendants.

Thanks to the lovely Paula Berg at Southwest Airlines for the link.

How do you prepare for your flight? originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportdancevideoyoutubeSun, 25 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Road testing the Cranky Concierge]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/23/road-testing-the-cranky-concierge/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/23/road-testing-the-cranky-concierge/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/23/road-testing-the-cranky-concierge/#commentsFiled under: ,

I've known Brett Snyder aka The Cranky Flier for a few years now, so when he started up The Cranky Concierge, an itinerary management service this past month, I was naturally intrigued.

The concept goes sort of like this: most people hate booking and micromanaging their itineraries, figuring out where and how to catch and connect to their flights and lacing their travel together. As a self-professed airline nerd, The Cranky kind of digs it, and for a small fee, he'll do it for you and help you along your way.

So on the way to Portland last weekend for a (lovely) drive through Oregon, I agreed to take it for a test run.

Below I've detailed how it went. Note that despite getting the service for free, I reserve no judgment.

Original flight: Chicago O'hare - Salt Lake City - Portland - Seattle - Minneapolis - Chicago O'hare.

Day of departure, Friday, October 16th.
Cranky sent me an email yesterday asking whether or not I wanted my updates via SMS or email. Even though I have a web-enabled iPhone I chose SMS, as I don't have Gmail pushing email to my phone.

Continue reading Road testing the Cranky Concierge

Road testing the Cranky Concierge originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplanebrett snyderBrettSnyderconciergecranky conciergeCrankyConciergecrankyflieritineraryFri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Expecting snow in Moscow this winter? Not so fast.]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/expecting-snow-in-moscow-this-winter-not-so-fast/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/expecting-snow-in-moscow-this-winter-not-so-fast/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/expecting-snow-in-moscow-this-winter-not-so-fast/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Russians may be able to tell us that Dmitry Medvedev is in charge of the country and get away with it, but rigging the weather is just too much. Come on now. It's obvious that you're up to something.

This year, Moscow's Mayor Yury Luzkhov is putting forth the proposition of seeding clouds to prevent large volumes of snow from falling on Russia's glorious capital city. The project, which would cost $10M to fund, could save money by cutting back on the $16M snow removal process currently in place -- not to mention the fact that the skies would be chipper and blue more often.

Perhaps the funniest part of whole exercise is that the process wouldn't stop snow. It would relocate it, directly depositing the white stuff all over the neighboring regions. It's as if Los Angeles saw a tsunami coming and said "Um, we have a parade this weekend. You take it, Las Vegas."

So if you find yourself in Red Square this winter snapping beautiful photos of St. Peter's against a perfect blue sky, don't send your thanks to Mother Nature. Instead, thank Mayor Luzkhov -- or more appropriately, the residents of Lyubertsy, Russia, who will be digging out from under twice as much snow this year.

Expecting snow in Moscow this winter? Not so fast. originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moscowrussiasnowThu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mileage runs, Flyertalk and obsessive compulsive flying: a film project]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/mileage-runs-flyertalk-and-obsessive-compulsive-flying-a-film/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/mileage-runs-flyertalk-and-obsessive-compulsive-flying-a-film/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/mileage-runs-flyertalk-and-obsessive-compulsive-flying-a-film/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Those who are remotely close to airline world have probably heard the term "mileage running" or have listened to a brief tirade about upgrades or lounge access at some point -- and many of you have probably tuned it out.

For those of you genuinely curious about the industry and those who try to work the system, however, Gabriel Leigh put together a pretty good documentary for his Master's thesis on how milking the process works, the costs, benefits and some of the personalities therein.

You might recognize a few of the interviewees -- Steve Belkin is the founder of Competitours, Randy Petersen founded Flyertalk and those fingers holding the small airplane models? Brett Snyder's, from The Cranky Flier and the The Cranky Concierge.

Irrespective of whether you subscribe to the content or not, the filmography is excellent and is worth watching alone. If you make it through the entire 20 minute video, let us know in the comments whether it strikes you as vain or savvy. I still don't know myself.


Frequent Flyer from Gabriel Leigh.

Mileage runs, Flyertalk and obsessive compulsive flying: a film project originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelairlineairplanebudget-travelcompetitoursflyflyerflyertalkmileage runnMileageRunnThu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skybar: the best rooftop bar in Bangkok]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/20/skybar-the-best-rooftop-bar-in-bangkok/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/20/skybar-the-best-rooftop-bar-in-bangkok/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/20/skybar-the-best-rooftop-bar-in-bangkok/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nothing out in the urban landscape can blow your mind quite like a well done rooftop bar. Remember Lost in Translation? The whole dynamic between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson unfolded in the New York Bar on the top floors of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, backdropped against the smooth jazz singer, a few stiff drinks and the Tokyo Skyline. It's hard for amazing things not to happen in a setting like that.

Bangkok's version of the New York Bar is called Skybar, the beverage component of Sirocco at the top of lebua at State Tower. Taking the elevator up to the concrete, roman-stlye dome that overlooks the outcropping, it's easy to see why Skybar and Sirocco are so popular: they're gorgeous. The color changing ring in which the bartender serves drinks juts out against the hotel and over the infinite city, and as the hue shifts from pink to blue to green it's hard to choose among staring at the people, the bar and the skyline.

As the live jazz band plays on, those longing for a bite to eat can sample Sirocco's fine Mediterranean fare as they bask outdoors in the city night. Others visiting for the drinks and the sights alone can both spend time socializing around the Skybar ring or wander up to Distil, an indoor/outdoor mecca for premium spirits. Here, they can sample the rarest of Johnnie Walker scotch whiskies, the most exclusive Cognacs and a wide selection of hand rolled Cuban Cigars.

Skybar, Distil and Sirocco can be found at the top of lebua at State Tower, 1055 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500. Make sure you dress sharply, no sandals or troublemakers are allowed.

Gallery: Outside of lebua at State Tower in Bangkok



Disclaimer: lebua sponsored our trip to come check out their hotels, though our opinions and experiences were all of our own design.

Skybar: the best rooftop bar in Bangkok originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokbarlebuasciroccoskybarthailandTue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bio jet-fuel: fact or fiction?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/bio-jet-fuel-fact-or-fiction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/bio-jet-fuel-fact-or-fiction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/bio-jet-fuel-fact-or-fiction/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The new trend among all sorts of green energies is in bio-fuels, those combustible fluids made from renewable sources such as switch grass, corn or soybeans. They're all over the place in the automotive industry, millions of cars burning E38, offering flex fuel options and touting their eco consciousness.

It should only follow that the airline industry jumped on the wagon.

But how valid is the concept of using bio-fuels to power an aircraft? From the combustion standpoint, the science is there, and several airlines have already proved that bio-fuels can be used for propulsion. Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand and JAL have all operated international flights with partially loaded eco-fuels, while stateside, Continental has also shown positive results in one of their Boeing 737 aircraft.

Could this all just be part of the marketing eco trend though? ANZ's 747 on which they performed their bio fuel test was scrapped last year after sitting on the idle tarmac, and ever since the main media hump earlier this year, jet bio fuel tests have been pretty mum. The fact of the matter is, irrespective of the source or processing, eco fuel just isn't as efficient as anything from fossil sources. And when it comes to the bottom line, we all know that the airlines love to be frugal.

Asked about the current market's readiness towards bio fuel, out source inside of the production industry was cautious, saying " ... there are some unsubstantiated claims out there and things like stunts with test flights do not have anything to do with the readiness of the fuel on a production basis for air travel."

Take that for what it's worth, but it sounds like eco-fuels have a long way to go before entering the mainstream air travel industry.

Bio jet-fuel: fact or fiction? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftairplanebio-fuelethanolfuelgasjet fueljetfuelThu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Can travel really be eco-friendly? A closer look]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/can-travel-really-be-eco-friendly-a-closer-look/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/can-travel-really-be-eco-friendly-a-closer-look/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/can-travel-really-be-eco-friendly-a-closer-look/#commentsFiled under:



One of the biggest moral struggles of the modern traveler comes when considering environmental impact. With today's high tech search engines and rock bottom prices, it's easier than ever to hopscotch around the planet, but to what detriment? How much needless carbon is produced by a weekend jaunt to Brazil? Today at Gadling we're teaming up with the good folks at change.org and taking a closer look at travel and its impact on the environment.

Among the myriad topics, we'll peer at the issue from from the pilot's perspective, through the photographer's lens of nature shots and from the traveler's point of view from eco-friendly destinations, in summation giving you a better look at the modern landscape now known as green travel.

Through these narratives we hope to raise your awareness in eco-friendly travel, the impact of your role in the industry and what it ultimately means towards the environment. We hope you like it.

Can travel really be eco-friendly? A closer look originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>green travelGreenTravelThu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside of Bangkok's five star luxury hotel, lebua at State Tower]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/14/inside-of-bangkoks-five-star-luxury-hotel-lebua-at-state-tower/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/14/inside-of-bangkoks-five-star-luxury-hotel-lebua-at-state-tower/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/14/inside-of-bangkoks-five-star-luxury-hotel-lebua-at-state-tower/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Perched at the top of the second tallest tower in Bangkok among the skyscrapers, steel and concrete is the strangest sight. Twenty Ionic columns, white stone and glass come together to form a Roman styled building, as if the center of the Pantheon was picked up and moved halfway around the world.

The structure is called The Dome, it's home, the lebua hotel at State Tower. As one of the finest five star hotels in Bangkok, lebua operates restaurants and bars in and adjacent to the dome, from where dazzled gastronomers can admire the glowing city below.

It's all part of the lebua package, an opulent, luxury experience that begins when you step out of the airport. Indulgent and VIP visitors will have access to the new BMW 730 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class during their stay, and it's a quick, twenty minute ride from Suvarnabhumi Airport into Silom, the financial and burgeoning cultural quarter of the city.

Situated near the banks of the Chao Phraya River, lebua takes up the top floors of State Tower, the second tallest building in Bangkok and a massive stone-faced structure in the skyline. An all-suite hotel, each room has balconies from where visitors can gaze out into the endless landscape and watch the city breathe.

Gallery: Outside of lebua at State Tower in Bangkok

Continue reading Inside of Bangkok's five star luxury hotel, lebua at State Tower

Inside of Bangkok's five star luxury hotel, lebua at State Tower originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokhotellebualuxurythailandWed, 14 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Takraw in Thailand: hacky sack + volleyball = amazing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/13/takraw-in-thailand-hacky-sack-volleyball-amazing/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/13/takraw-in-thailand-hacky-sack-volleyball-amazing/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/13/takraw-in-thailand-hacky-sack-volleyball-amazing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Part of the fun in exploring other cultures is getting into their off-beat sports. Brazil's Capoeira, for example, is a strange combination of dancing, fighting, spinning in circles and working out.

In Southeast Asia, the unique sport of choice is Sepak Takraw. Positioned on either side of a low net, two to three team members kick a wicker ball between them, ultimately bouncing the projectile over a net to the other team. Like volleyball, the sport has sets, spikes and a great deal of strategy, but the real finesse comes in striking the ball hard over the net. It takes amazing balance, a good jump and a near back flip to make a good play, the end result of which is an outstanding, acrobatic display. Take a look:

Takraw in Thailand: hacky sack + volleyball = amazing originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokculturetakrawthailandTue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST