Visits from outside the United States continued their slide in August. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that 5.4 million people visited the United States from other countries in August this year. Unfortunately, that's a drop of 9 percent from August 2008. And, the smaller number of people is spending less money when it comes here. In August 2009, international visitors spent $10 billion. This sounds like a lot, but it's off almost 21 percent from last year. For the first eight months of this year, spending by foreign visitors reached $79.5 billion, down 17 percent year-over-year. The fact that the year-to-date decline isn't as bad as what we saw in August suggests that the situation has been worsening.

Trends in visits from Canada and Mexico are consistent with the global trend. Canadian visits fell 6 percent in August and are off 8 percent for the year through August. Meanwhile, visits from Mexico surged in August, gaining 23 percent, with land arrivals up 37 percent and air arrivals down 7 percent. This wasn't enough to change the situation for the year, however. For the first eight months of 2009, visits from Mexico fell six percent relative to the same period in 2008.

Continue reading Visitors from outside the U.S. down 9 percent, spending a lot less

Visitors from outside the U.S. down 9 percent, spending a lot less originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After a year of "travel slumps," "staycations" and other cringeworthy words and conditions, let's plan to get out on the road next year. Hey, economists are saying that the recession's already over, and the job market's recovery can't be too far behind. So, there's your motive. Opportunity? That's your vacation time; you probably have enough. All that's left to pull the perfect trip together are the means ... which Intrepid Travel is happy to provide.

Intrepid Travel has big news for next year, from green travel to exciting excursions in Iceland and North Africa. So, if you're looking for some ideas for 2010, check out the five below. Intrepid's definitely making it interesting.

1. Travel green: carbon offset
Intrepid Travel is moving more than 500 of its trips to "Carbon Offset" next year. In 2009, the company played around with the idea on 38 excursions, after having announced in December 2006 that it wanted to be carbon neutral by the end of 2010. With next year's offering, Intrepid is certainly making progress.

2. Timor-Leste: tops for adventure
Spend 15 days in Dili and its markets, trekking out to Mt. Ramelau and wandering the Suai-area rainforest. Timor-Leste hasn't been swamped with tourists yet, redefining "off the beaten path." If you're looking for the sort of experience where Intrepid excels, this is it.

Gallery: Reykjavik up close

Continue reading Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path!

Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A week away is nice, but nothing beats a month. New rates from Watercolor Inn & Resort and WaterSound Beach put you comfortably on Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast for incredibly reasonable rates, and the amenities available are fantastic. Let the migration begin!

The digs you can reserve at Watercolor range from one bedroom to seven, all fully furnished and with upscale, cutting-edge kitchens and laundry facilities. And, for the workaholics, there's complementary high-speed internet access. So, you'll never have to be far from the folks who are ultimately paying for your getaway. Free bike, kayak and canoe use is available as well. But, that's nothing compared to what happens at the spa. Book a month-long retreat, and you'll be able take advantage of discounted treatments.

Golfers will be thrilled with their stays at these resorts. For only an extra $395 per month, you'll get unlimited access to Greg Norman-designed Shark's Tooth Golf Club, Camp Greek Golf Club by Tom Fazio and Love III, which was designed by Origins. That's a hell of a lot of golf at some outstanding courses.

Here's the best part: WaterColor vacation homes start at a mere $1,700 a month, with WaterSound Beach rentals available for as little as $1,200 a month. There's no reason to take off for only a week -- not with rates like these.

A month at WaterColor is cheaper than ever originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The best travel deals don't happen on Black Friday. Instead of rushing out to the nearest big box store to do battle with the other crazy shoppers, pull the trigger by November 20, and get a trip to Keystone, Colorado. Book your stay for between December 19 and 26, and you could score rates as low as $101 a night -- 50 percent off the usual rate! The deal works at Keystone Lodge & Spa and the Inn at Keystone, not to mention the condos at Lakeside, Evergreen, Soda Ridge and Aspen Ridge (from studios to two-bedroom suites).

This is a sweetheart deal. For skiers, booking a room for Christmas week by November 20 is a no-brainer, and non-skiers can have a blast, too. Ice skating, dining and shopping are available, and the complimentary Adventure Passport provides free and discounted access to plenty of activities on and off the slopes.

Keystone offers a better alternative to holiday shopping originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We aren't staying at home, but we're definitely not flying. That's the word out of AAA this year. Thanksgiving, always a travel-heavy holiday, will see more cars in the road than people crammed at the gate, as travelers respond to the recession and recent increases in airfares.

AAA puts the number of people driving 50 miles or more from home for Thanksgiving at 38.4 million -- up 1.4 percent from last year. The number of people traveling by car (regardless of distance) is set to edge 2.1 percent higher. Meanwhile, the number of people taking to the skies is expected to drop a hefty 6.7 percent. The Air Transportation Association sees the passenger count dropping 4 percent, but that's for the "holiday period," which stretches from November 20 to December 1. "Economic headwinds" are the primary reason, the ATA says.

The economic situation's role in the decision to drive versus fly isn't limited to the change in prices. Airlines have been pushing their fares up for the past few weeks, but for consumers, the decision is based on cost relative to their willingness to spend. Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, tells MSNBC, "A leisure traveler might have bought a domestic ticket for $350 last year. Lately, $250 has been the breakpoint; above that, they just weren't going to buy."

Continue reading Passengers to become drivers for Thanksgiving this year

Passengers to become drivers for Thanksgiving this year originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After having been left alone for a while, California isn't tolerating nudity any more. The state's Department of Parks and Recreation is putting out the word that it will crack down on bare crack this year at San Onofre State Beach. So, if you like to sun in the buff or skinny-dip in the sea, you could be out of luck. Nudists call it a "tremendous setback."

The nudist community worries that the California decision could trigger a chain reaction across the country. Bob Morton, executive director of the Naturist Action Committee, says, "There are other states in which there are sanctioned nude beaches. They're all looking to see what California is doing."

There's a secluded stretch of San Onofre State Beach, 1,000 feet long, that's been popular for sunning sans threads for more than three decades, and it has such a reputation that visitors from out of state seek it out. Cliffs stretching 300 feet into the sky block the views of would-be gawkers, making it comfortably private. And, there's a certain justice in the fact that it was a decision by President Richard Nixon that opened the beach to the public.

California smacks nude beach buffs originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It took $100 million in renovations, but The Pierre is now open ... an occasion celebrated almost immediately with a AAA rating of Five Diamonds. The Pierre is now among only 113 hotels in North America and the Caribbean. Set just up from the corner of Central Park South and Fifth Ave and with amazing views of the park, The Pierre is inches from any luxury offering you could possibly want.

Heiko Kuenstle, the hotel's general manager, says, "We are honored to receive this award in our first year of re-opening," which he describes as "a tribute to our staff and our pursuit of excellence." Kuenstle continues, "Our determination, from the moment we took over management of this hotel in 2005, has always been to be recognized as among the very best hotels in New York -- which of course is tantamount to ranking among the world's best. We say that with a full understanding that our job now only gets harder and that is to live up to the five diamond rating, every day and in every interaction with every guest."

Continue reading The Pierre spends $100 million for five diamonds

The Pierre spends $100 million for five diamonds originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Babymoons are hot. Every major resort is looking for a way to get in on the action ... and why not? Moms-to-be are carrying all that extra weight, coping with the effects on their bodies and dream of a place where they can be pampered for a little while. Pregnancy massages take up the space between fantastic meals, and mom finds a bit of bliss. The guys don't lose with this arrangement either. It's a last chance to take a vacation and focus on the people who soon will be called "the parents," even by their own friends. Dad can have a few cocktails while mom sits in the sun.

But, eventually, it comes to an end. The car comes to the resort, and the revelers return to the airport, go home and resume normal life. It's all finished far too quickly, and in a few months, life changes forever.

What's interesting is that the babymoon may be over, but the effects can linger for months. After lying dormant for a while, they provide relaxing thoughts when you need them most - right after your kid is born. My wife and I went you ours around five months ago, and I'm still feeling the residual effects now. Of all the travel I've done this year, those four days remain the smartest.

Most travel writers focus on the immediate benefits of a babymoon. That doesn't do you much good when the kid has arrived, so here are four reasons you'll be happy you went on a babymoon, even months after you've returned from it.

Gallery: Guestrooms at Curtain Bluff

Continue reading Four reasons why your babymoon matters five months later

Four reasons why your babymoon matters five months later originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If they can't make money taking passengers from one place to another, maybe airlines can harness the power of eyeballs ... you know, the way the web does. If you get enough people passing by a particular spot -- physical or virtual -- it's possible to toss up a few ads and make some money. This is what AirTran has in mind. The airline is putting ads on the bottoms of seat-back tray tables. So, for takeoff and landing, at least, when this device is in its upright and locked position, passengers will be treated to prolonged exposure to the desires of advertisers.

AirTran plans to execute this across 138 planes within the next few weeks -- it's easy to pull the trigger when you stand to make some money by doing very little. The first ad partner, Mother Nature Network, is offering fliers the opportunity to win a cruise on Royal Caribbean. Future advertisers are expected to be travel-related, as well. The ads will be 2 ½ inches by 9 inches and will be easy to swap out, thanks to the plastic in which they will be encased. As planes are brought in for overnight service, they'll be set up for the ads.

Continue reading AirTran tries to make money like an internet company

AirTran tries to make money like an internet company originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

St. Andrews Day is on November 30, and the festivities surrounding Scotland's national holiday are due to start on November 26. For travelers with Scottish ancestry - or those looking to hide from relatives over the Thanksgiving holiday - it might not be a bad idea to head out to Scotland for a few days. Even though there isn't much time left to book, give yourself the thrill of picking up and dashing off on short notice.

This year, the St. Andrews Day celebrations are the grand finale of Scotland's Homecoming year, so expect plenty to be happening. There will be a music extravaganza, Edinburgh's Christmas and Illuminated Art Car Parade (the official opening) and free previews of Burns Cottage.

If you travel to Scotland through December 12, you can take advantage of an amazing deal. For only $1,136, you can pick up airfare from Newark to Glasgow on Continental Airlines, six nights at one of 320 Scottish bed and breakfast properties, a full breakfast every day and six days of rental car use with unlimited mileage. All Value-Added Tax and service charges are included!

There's an added perk for anyone named Andrew or Andrea. You'll have a chance to win a five-night trip to Scotland (including stays in Edinburgh). Answer one question correctly, and you'll have a shot at a trip to the land of Andrew.

Celebrate St. Andrews Day in Scotland originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US Airways Flight 728 was forced to land in Boston Monday night, far short of its London destination. John Alexander Murry, of Glasgow, was arrested just after 11 PM, causing the plane to stay on the ground for two hours before resuming its Philly-to-London route.

The 50-year-old Scottish man, according to prosecutors, was being "unruly and disruptive," it seems. The crew continually asked him to stop blocking the aisle, but Murray allegedly wasn't willing to comply. So, he'll be telling his story to a judge in East Boston District Court, where he was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. The charge is interfering with a flight crew.

According to a US Airways spokesman, the pilot chose to land in Boston and have Murray bounced "in the interest of safety."

Unruly Scot forces Boston landing originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If these questions make you feel ignorant, you're not alone. Michael Lynn, a prof at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, has conducted to nationwide tipping surveys and has found that a third of the respondents don't know to leave 15 percent to 20 percent of the tab at a restaurant. Throw hotels and drivers into the mix, and it's unsurprising that the rules aren't understood as clearly as they could be.

So, USA Today and I are helping you know what to tip and when. A recent article by Gary Stoller provides some good ideas, and I've tossed in a few of my own.

Continue reading Tips for tippers: it isn't what you expect

Tips for tippers: it isn't what you expect originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tokyo is the top dining city in the world, according to the latest Michelin Guide. With 11 restaurants at three stars, it's pushed past Paris, the former top dog in the culinary world. Eight of the nine Tokyo restaurants with three starts retained their Michelin ratings year-over-year, and three were bumped up from two stars to three for 2010. Paris has only 10 three-star restaurants in the 2010 Michelin Guide, and New York only has four.

According to Oyvind Naesheim, Nobu Hong Kong's executive chef, "Tokyo is an unbelievable city for food," continuing, "The passion and perfection at some top Tokyo restaurants show us why this city is so outstanding in fine dining."

Two thirds of the 197 Tokyo restaurants listed by Michelin focus on Japanese food, focusing on common styles includingfugu, soba, sukiyaki, tempura and sushi. Three of the 11 three-star spots went to French Restaurants.

In total, Tokyo has 261 stars, more than any other city in the 23 countries that Michelin covers. Look for the list of Tokyo three star restaurants after the jump.

Continue reading Tokyo restaurants tops in Michelin

Tokyo restaurants tops in Michelin originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The chill hasn't quite crept into the air yet, but it's coming. We know it's coming. So, instead of waiting for the frost to form on your windshield, line up your next trip to the tropics now, and be ready to take off as soon as it starts to get cold. A new RockResort hotel is about to open in the Dominican Republic and is waiting for you to show up, kick back and soak in the sun.

The Balcones del Atlantico will be the second RockResort to open in the Caribbean, following the first, The Landings in St. Lucia. When it opens in February, the resort will boast 86 two- and three-bedroom villas that are integrated into the natural surroundings.

Paul Toner, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality, says, "Building on the tremendous success of The Landings St. Lucia, A RockResort, which opened two years ago, we were eager to expand in the Caribbean region." He continues, "We look forward to managing this island resort and sharing with our guests the iconic beauty of the Dominican Republic, and the exceptional guest service that RockResorts is known for at all of our properties."

Gallery: Balcones del Atlantico, RockResorts

RockResorts set to arrive in Dominican Republic originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Prevention is really the only course of action at your disposal. Otherwise, you're left waiting for someone else to notice the problem and pull you out of your rut. For lone road warriors, unfortunately, regular exposure to anyone is rare. Clients are most likely to realize the situation, but that's more likely to result in a call to your boss than to you. Your extrication from the perils of solo business traveler life thus could come at the cost of a ding to your career. To avoid this, you'll have to be, as the management gurus say, "proactive."

Your sanity and livelihood are on the line. Fortunately, you're inherently equipped to protect yourself, and the travel environment offers much that you can use. However, both your mind and the hotel offer plenty in the way of temptation, so try to stay on an even keel.

Here are six ways to ward off hermitdom for the solo business traveler:

Continue reading Don't become a hermit: eight tips for solo business travelers

Don't become a hermit: eight tips for solo business travelers originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The message is clear: shape up or ship out.Up to 300 Holiday Inn hotels could be booted from the brand if their owners don't get their respective acts together. Intercontinentals Hotel Group has told them they need to get on board with an enormous improvement plan by February 1, 2010.

Does 300 sound like a lot? It is. In fact, it's 12% of the 3,300 hotels that fly the Holiday Inn flag. The holdouts haven't begun to play ball with the brand's requirements, which include new bedding, pillows and towels -- not to mention modern music, a renovated lobby and green uplighting on the exterior. The total package is expected to cost around $1 billion.

Kevin Kowalski, brand chief for Holiday Inn, made clear how flexible the mother ship is willing to be: "We're not changing the timing." So, he told the owners of these 300 hotels, "If you have a quality problem, fix it." Not doing so by the deadline will garner the hotel owners failure letters. Sound relatively harmless? Their banks will get them, too, which could trigger some hefty consequences.

IHG to 300 Holiday Inns: put up or shut up originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Congress is digging into all those new airline fees. Extra bags, special check-in situations ... you name it. Before you start cheering on our lawmakers, though, you should know that they aren't doing this from a sense of consumer advocacy. Frankly, Congress doesn't give a damn how much you pay for air travel. But, it does care how you pay. Why? A cash-strapped government is wondering if it's leaving money on the table.

When you look at your receipt, the line with "taxes" has never been lost on you, right? Well, the add-ons aren't included in this number: Congress has a tax on airfare, not all the other stuff. So, for the airlines, this has been a tax-free revenue stream, one that's been crucial to helping the already bruised airlines survive the current recession.

Yet, is it really just airfare in another form? That's what Congress wants to know. Even if this is a different form of revenue, do you think it will be left untouched? Of course not! The government needs money, and there's nothing stopping it from passing a new bill to tax the extra services. How much resistance would be raised?

Continue reading Congress to investigate airline fees ... but not for your benefit

Congress to investigate airline fees ... but not for your benefit originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Obama Administration is taking a closer look at the airline industry with the hopes that something can be fixed. Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood is pulling together a panel that will investigate the problems the industry faces and hopefully come up with a solution. But, I don't think anyone's breath is being held.

The airlines are always swamped with criticism, with consumers unhappy about customer service levels, on-time arrivals and departures, the shrinking list of amenities and increasingly cramped conditions. Now, shareholders are speaking louder about declining revenues and profits. Employees are losing their jobs, and regulators and industry observers worry about continued safety violations, including drunk and distracted pilots.

Ultimately, LaHood's goal is for the panel to put together "a road map for the future of the aviation industry." The panel is being convened thanks in part to a push from the airline unions, the stakeholders worried most by the layoffs that have now become routine. According to The Associated Press, they believe the industry is "dysfunctional."

Of course, it didn't take the airlines to offer their thoughts ask for money -- lots of it. They claim that radar technology that dates back to World War II isn't as effective as a GPS-based alternative. The industry would love to see this upgrade ... as long as the government writes the check. The FAA is already prepared to spend $15 billion to $22 billion on this effort, but there is an additional $14 billion to $20 billion currently sent over to the airlines. The upside would be reductions in airport congestion, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Continue reading White House pushing for answers to airline industry woes

White House pushing for answers to airline industry woes originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Commercials don't work any more, and print ads are all but dead. So, how do you get the word out? If you're Larry Beard, you have a couple of girls grind in the back of a truck with clear plastic sides while driving around Las Vegas. This isn't for everyone. After all, Beard is the marketing director at Deja Vu Showgirls -- which is exactly what you'd think it is.

Now, he has to stop.

Sin City authorities made him stop toting the strippers around, but the club is ready to fight. His vehicle rolled up and down the strip from 10 PM to 2 AM. Strippers inside gave a taste of what goes on inside the club. And yes, in case you were wondering, the truck had poles for the ladies to work.

Stripper truck stopped in Sin City originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What's the happiest place on Earth? Well, Disney claims that title, but here's the problem: Utah does, too. If they were in different countries, no conflict would exist, but since they do, we have to sort this out.

A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released ranks Utah highest among all states in happiness. And, if that's not enough, Men's Fitness magazine ranked Salt Lake City fittest in America. So, the endorphins are firing, and Utah is thrilled. Want to get a little taste of this happiness?

The Gold Medial Podium Package celebrates Salt Lake's Olympic legacy. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes while taking advantage of some great deals. Book a four-night vacation by December 15, 2009 -- including a Ski Salt Lake Super Pass -- at any of the 22 participating hotels, and your fourth day on the slopes and your fourth night in the hotel are free.

Eat, drink and ski happy in Salt Lake this winter originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.