Gadling

This summer, the garbage cans of Helsinki will have something to say ... to you ... in six languages. The strange people who brought you wife-carrying contests and team berry-picking (you just can't make this stuff up) are happy to present the talking trash receptacle – which comes with a musical "thank you." Nowhere else in the world is litter discouraged with such positive reinforcement. Maybe that's why I didn't see much trash on the ground when I was over there.

Last year at this time, Helsinki put four of these devices in the center of the city. They were so unbelievably successful that the Finns have doubled tripled down on the concept. Look for eight more of these contraptions in the Finnish capital this year. Simo Frangén, a popular Finnish TV personality, was kind enough to give his voice to the cause. The new trash cans will be located near Esplanadi, Senate Square, Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church.

These crazy devices will speak Finnish, Swedish, Japanese, English, German, Polish, and Russian.Also, some will provide fun musical sounds created by high school students from the Kruununhaka district of Helsinki as part of the Helsinki City Public Works youth campaign."

Don't you want to hang out in Paris with Renoir? The exhibit "Renoir in the 20th Century" is coming to the national Galleries of the Grand Palais on September 23, 2009 and will stay through December 21, 2009. That gives you plenty of opportunity to soak in what promises to be an impressive exhibition. And, since you're already hooked on Paris (who isn't?), Concorde Hotels & Resorts is trying to lure you in the door ... which shouldn't be that hard when you see what they're offering.

So, shell out for a hotel room (starting at $282 a night), and you'll pick up two priority tickets to the Renoir exhibition and buffet breakfast for two for every night you stay. You can choose from six hotels for this package.

• Hotel de Crillon – this 18th century masterpiece has a history closely linked to that of the Place de la Concorde
• Hotel du Louvre – facing the Musée du Louvre and the Opéra Garnier in the heart of Paris' fashion district, Hotel du Louvre is differentiated by its colorful interior
• Hotel Lutetia – the grand hotel on the Left Bank is right in the middle of the action of Saint-Germain des Prés and its fashion boutiques and isn't far from the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Musée d'Orsay
• Hotel Concorde St. Lazare – uniquely charming and only a short walk from the Opéra Garnier and several famous Parisian department stores
• Hotel Concorde La Fayette – located between the Champs-Elysées and La Défense
• Hotel Concorde Montparnasse – you'll find it in the heart of Montparnasse

Koryo Tours is offering the least expensive North Korea travel deal I've ever seen. Granted, there aren't many tours to this corner of the world, so there can't be too many discounts. But, even in this limited field, a $1,000 jaunt to the most isolated country in the world is an incredible find.

For this low price, you can spend three days in North Korea in August (departing from and returning to Beijing). The price of the package includes flights, accommodations, guides, entry fees and the other basics of getting into and out of Pyongyang. You'll also get two chances to see Arirang – the Mass Games – and a tour of the country's capital, including the Juche Tower, Kim Il Sung Square and the Pyongyang Metro. Meals are also covered.

The trip runs from August 27 – 29, 2009, with the last date to book August 17, 2009. Students, children and groups of at least three are also eligible for discounts. And, Americans are allowed to take the trip.

There has been nothing like this deal, and the odds of it being offered again are rare. This could be the best chance you have to go to North Korea.

Gallery: North Korea: The Traffic Girls of Pyongyang

When you travel to an upscale resort, it's pretty hard to leave the property. It's not like you're held captive, of course. I had no problem actually leaving Curtain Bluff physically, but it was hard to get motivated enough to leave. This is where the accusations of snobbery enter the picture. The elite prefer to stay within the sheltered walls of the property. For some, this is true, though the judgment is often hasty. High-end resorts are designed to make you as happy as possible. Everything is supposed to be perfect ... and why would you leave perfect?

Regardless of how amazing your resort is, there is plenty to see outside the gates. Even if you take just one day of your vacation to roam this small island (Antigua occupies only 108 square miles), you'll walk away without regret.

So, you're outside the gates in Antigua ... now what? After the jump, check out five recommendations to get you started.

Gallery: Devil's Bridge

For the average traveler, definitions don't matter much. You figure out the type of trip you want to take, whip out your credit card and do the deed. It's really pretty damned simple. But, for every purchase you make, there are countless eyes watching. Nothing nefarious is going on; it's all actually quite innocent. When you think about how many people rely on your willingness to open your credit card – and how the travel market as a whole is being beat to hell this year – it makes perfect sense that the industry will watch, analyze and try to find new and interesting ways to get you to lay out some cash for travel.

For the business, definitions are incredibly important. When they look at where the money is going, how a particular trip is defined allows these insiders to communicate, develop strategies and invest in different excursions. If one guy says, "Packages are hot," and another doesn't define packages the same way, limited resources will be wasted. When money is pissed away, there isn't as much available for discounts and other promotions. So, nailing down the lingo actually helps you in the end.

What's at stake in all this? Well, according to travel industry research firm PhoCusWright, just over $18 billion. Yeah, it's in bold for a reason. This is a hefty chunk of the total U.S. travel market, but it's also among the most difficult to understand. There are nuances that mess with the vocabulary. I spent some time as a strategy analyst covering this industry, and sorting out the details is an absolute nightmare.

So, if you're at all interested in the business of travel, take a look after the jump at the different flavors of "package." I know there have to be a couple of geeks like me out there who find this stuff fascinating.

Today, the Hotel Terra Jackson Hole just got a hell of a lot bigger. A new addition is now open for business, increasing the property's size by a whopping 68,000 square feet. Look for 60 new guestrooms and 4,200 square feet of meeting space. An infinity plunge pool now sits atop a rooftop terrace, and the Chill Spa now has a cutting-edge fitness facility.

The guestrooms are a mix of basic, Urban Studios, and suites of one, two and three bedrooms. The terrace surrounding the plunge pool consists of 1,700 square feet of space with outstanding views of the ski resort and mountains, and the new ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a patio overlooking Teton Village.

Photos aren't available yet, but you can click here to get a sense of what it will look like.

Some native Hawaiians are looking to bring an end to shark tours, despite their popularity among tourists. They cite cultural concerns, according to a report by MSNBC, while surfers and environmentalists are worried that the animals could begin to associate people with lunchtime. Meanwhile, federal regulators are doing what they do best ... investigating.

Of course, tourists don't respond all that well to arguments made from cultural sensitivity. But, the notion that they could wind up fish food is gaining some momentum. George Burgess, who researches sharks at the University of Florida, believes that sharks will go where they are fed daily, which could deplete other forms of marine life in these areas ... and leave populations elsewhere unchecked. There is conflicting research from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Federal law generally doesn't allow shark-feeding off Pacific island territories and Hawaii, but this doesn't stop the tour operators, which claim to be operating within the law.

Gallery: Bahamas: Shark Dive

Cities and states are pumping up their coffers at the expense of visitors. Unemployment has led to a fall in income taxes, and with consumer spending off, sales taxes aren't bring in what they did in the past. So, municipalities have had to look elsewhere.

And, travel is a great place to start!

How can a city or state raise money without incurring the wrath of its own voters? You guessed it – travel taxes. Hotels and rental cars are favorites, because the likelihood of nailing a resident with the tax is low. While you'd think that these additional fees would keep tourists away, it's not likely. There are probably a handful of tax activists out there who'd rather dump tea in a harbor, but it's unlikely to be the minority.

Last year, hotel room taxes brought in $14 billion, but the take is expected to fall this year, even with the higher rates proposed. After all, hotel occupancy rates are at their lowest levels since 1956 – a sluggish 55.5 percent – according to PKF Hospitality Research.

Who's getting in on the action?

The dates have finally been announced! I know there are at least a few people out there who have been dying to know when Blickling Hall would open the doors to its famous 17th century cabinet. The designs on the inside, I'm told, are a sight to be hold, yet so rare that even the National Trust volunteer working the room had only seen it in photos.

The doors of the cabinet will be opened from Wednesday, October 14, 2009 through Friday, October 19, 2009 – from 11 AM to 5 PM – according to a comment left by Claire Graves, of the National Trust. If all goes well, the gentleman who showed me the photos will be around to see the real thing this year.

While you're at Blickling Hall, be sure to ask about the footman and the odd man (particularly the latter). All joking aside, the gardens outside are nothing short of stunning. Inside, however, every answer raises only more questions, such as, "Why didn't the footman return to his £1-a-week job after serving in World War II?" and "What did people do for exercise in the 17th century?"

This announcement is the first of its kind, from what I'm told, as the doors are usually opened without fanfare ... so, you saw it at Gadling first.

Gallery: Blickling Hall

A Tourist Information Center was just erected in Afghanistan's Bamiyan valley. Customer service lessons are in progress – already making the region friendlier than most airlines – but it may take some time before Afghanistan is ready for regular visits. After all, seven U.S. soldiers lost their lives in the war there yesterday. If you think Afghanistan is ready for western tourists, you are out of your mind. Even if the fighting doesn't stop you, look out for landmines and hand grenade fishing.

In the Bamiyan region, which is not where the recent fighting involving U.S. soldiers took place, the locals are eager to transform their province into a destination for tourists interested in history. At present, 20 people are receiving customer service training to convey the marks of the past on this region to any guests who may be interested.

And, it might actually be working.

This year, more than 400 foreigners did visit the region (likely not including those in uniform), with airport and hotel reservations up more than 100 percent from 180 for the same period in 2008. If these sites are cleared of landmines by October, as expected, the draw could be even greater. Fortunately, there will be a pizza place ready to serve when the rush comes.