Gadling

Cruise Line Builds Tropical Paradise, Again

Chris Owen — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Dominican Republic, Transportation, Cruises, Caribbean

To many cruise travelers, "cruising" means "Caribbean" and a growing number have sailed to and around the warm blue waters there many times. Tiring of the same ports, those travelers want variety but don't want to travel internationally. Cruise lines answer the call by literally "building" new destinations that add variety and help out local economies as well.

This week, Carnival Corporation, parent to a number of cruise lines, broke ground on the Amber Cove Cruise Center, a new $65 million facility in the Dominican Republic to be built exclusively for cruise ships.

"With this cruise terminal, tourism and economic activity in Puerto Plata and the north region will rise to occupy a pre-eminent regional position in the entire Caribbean," said Dominican Republic president Leonel Fernandez Reyna in an article for Breaking Travel News.

The new two-berth Amber Cove Cruise Center will be able to accommodate up to 8,000 cruise passengers and 2,000 crew members daily. The facility is expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation.

Amber Cove will feature a welcome center with a variety of retail offerings, including a marketplace for locally sourced Dominican crafts and souvenirs, as well as a wide range of themed restaurants and bars, water attractions and a transportation hub allowing visitors easy access by land and sea to the surrounding destinations and attractions.

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Cruise Line Builds Tropical Paradise, Again originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hilton launches "Authentically Local" programs in the Caribbean and Latin America

Libby Zay — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hotels and Accommodations, Central America, Caribbean

Can a mega-corporate hospitality chain with 3,750 hotels provide authentic local experiences to travelers? Select Hilton Worldwide hotels are giving it a shot with the just announced "Authentically Local" packages. Available through the end of the year in the Caribbean and Latin America, the packages are aimed at introducing travelers to local cultures and languages through experiences such as dinners featuring local flavors, dance lessons in the local style, destination and tour suggestions hand-picked by locals, and more. There is even the opportunity for hotel guests to choose wearing a "language immersion pin" that identifies them as someone hotel employees will only speak to in the local language.

Options under the new package include tasting conch at the British Colonial Hilton Nassau in the Bahamas, learning rumba at the Hilton Cartagena in Colombia, snorkelling in the clear waters at the Hilton Curaçao off the coast of Venezuela, or touring the Mercado Municipal when staying at the Hilton São Paulo Morumbi in Brazil. The hotel chain also says culture consultants will be avialable at each participating property (full list after the jump) to help guests learn about the most celebrated experiences in the destinations.

So, is Hilton's new initiative to help travelers partake in authentic experiences when staying at their hotels a way the chain is reaching out to the community, or is it just a marketing ploy? It could go either way, but no matter what it's nice to see more travelers will be learning about local cultures.

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Hilton launches "Authentically Local" programs in the Caribbean and Latin America originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traditional holiday beverages from around the world

Laurel Miller — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Mexico, United States, Chile, Peru, Central America, Caribbean

Americans aren't very creative when it comes to traditional holiday beverages (do, however, look for my upcoming story on Boulder's banging mixology scene, which includes some killer contemporary winter cocktails). Historically, though, we're more of an eggnog/mulled cider/hot chocolate kind of society.

I'm not knocking our Christmas beverages of choice. Properly made, they're delicious, and certainly festive. But some countries really know how to roll when it comes to holiday imbibing (especially Latin America. One word: rum.).

Below, a compilation of some of the more interesting boozy holiday beverages from around the world that can be easily recreated in your own kitchen. Online recipes abound, and all of these are (almost) as tasty sans alcohol.

Coquito: Puerto Ricans are great because they're not afraid to embrace their love of saturated fats (lard, coconut milk, etc.) or rum. In case you've been living under a rock, coconut is the new fat du jour (read more about its health attributes here). Everything in moderation, including moderation, as I always say.

Coquito recipes vary, but in general, this rich, blended Christmas concoction is a froth of spiced rum, condensed milk, coconut milk or cream of coconut, vanilla, and spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Some versions may include ginger or ground nuts, but it's always served chilled, in a small glass. Heavy, yes, but both sexy and satisfying. Add some eggs, and you'll have ponche, the Venezuelan or Dominican version of eggnog.

Mulled wine: Variations on this warm, spiced, sugared, and otherwise enhanced wine (usually red) are served throughout Europe. There's Nordic gløgg redolent of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and bitter orange (and perhaps a helping of aquavit). It's very similar to German glühwein made with lemon, cinnamon sticks, cardamom or ginger, and cloves; in Alsace (the French region bordering Germany), they also add vanilla bean.

In Bulgaria, greyano vino contains honey, peppercorns, and often, apple or citrus. Polish grzane wino is more of a traditional mulled wine, but they also make grzane piwo, in which mulled beer (try a Hefeweizen or Belgian ale which are lighter and sweeter) is substituted for the wine. Na zdrowie ("To your health")!

[Photo credit: Flicker user Akane86]

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Dominican resort offers ultra-luxe island adventure

Chris Owen — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Dominican Republic, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Luxury Travel

A new Dominican resort has plans to change the travel and tourism landscape in the Caribbean when completed in February 2012. Eden Roc at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic consists of 34 freestanding suites and three opulent bungalows, each one fully equipped with it's own private swimming pool, that offer jet-setting guests an unprecedented level of intimate luxury that personifies glamour.

Eden Roc promises to spoil guests further with extravagant amenities such as the resort's full service spa, three Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses, tennis facilities, Caletón Beach Club, Eden Roc Kids Club, five diverse culinary selections and more.

Located in the uber-exclusive community of Capa Cana, Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a 20-minute drive from the Punta Cana International Airport and private jet landing strip. Home to white haute beaches and tropical rainforests, the Caletón Beach Club offers global luxury clientele everything they may desire.

Families with children will have access to the resort's jungle-themed Kids Club, designed to resemble a massive tree house complete with video games, mini dining area and Mini Spa, where kids of all ages can enjoy manicures, pedicures and hair styling in style.

Gallery: Dominican Resort

Continue reading Dominican resort offers ultra-luxe island adventure

Dominican resort offers ultra-luxe island adventure originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bizarre baby names: banned in New Zealand

Laurel Miller — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Sweden, Dominican Republic, United States, New Zealand, News

The spawn of Hollywood celebrities will probably want to avoid giving birth in New Zealand in the future. The annoying trend of bequeathing ridiculous names to one's offspring will no longer be tolerated in the island nation, according to CNN.

The country's Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages is banning "weird" baby names: the current list includes Lucifer, Duke, Messiah, and 89 (let's hope that's not his/her birth order). Bishop, Baron, General, Judge, King, Knight, and Mr. were said to be too similar to titles. And letters such as C, D, I, and T and names involving punctuation marks? Nope.

In 2008, New Zealand's names registrar approved non-traditional names (there's a set of twins out there named Benson and Hedges). Apparently, circumstances or places of conception were also cool as namesakes. Hence, Violence and Number 16 Bus Shelter. But now there's an end to the madness, and hopefully New Zealand will once again become a nation of Liam's and Chloe's.

Fortunately, Sweden (sorry, Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, pronounced Albin) and the Dominican Republic are getting on board with banning idiotic baby names. In 2007, a Dominican judge banned "Tonton" (Dummy) Ruiz, but only because it was confusing and/or gave no indication of gender.

I'm all for foreign or original baby names (despite to this day being called "Laura/Lauren/Nora/Floral/Coral" on a daily basis). But doesn't it constitute a form of child abuse when you stick your kid with a handle guaranteed to inspire butt-kicking on the playground? You'd better learn taekwando, Bronx Mowgli Wentz.

[Photo credit: Flickr user scherre]

[Via Global Post]

Bizarre baby names: banned in New Zealand originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain Kidd's pirate ship to become underwater museum

Sean McLachlan — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Learning, Scuba Diving, Dominican Republic, News, Caribbean

The submerged wreck of Captain Kidd's pirate ship will become a "Living Museum of the Sea" reports Science Daily.

The Quedagh Merchant was found a couple of years ago just off the coast of the Dominican Republic. It's only 70 feet from the shore of Catalina Island and rests in ten feet of water, so it's a perfect destination for scuba divers or even snorkelers.

Underwater signs will guide divers around the wreck, and like in above-ground museums, there's a strict "don't touch the artifacts" policy. Often when shipwrecks are found the discoverers keep the location secret to protect them from looting. Hopefully this bold step of allowing visitors to swim around such an important wreck will help inform the public without any harm being done. One can only hope!

Captain Kidd is one of the most famous and most controversial of pirates. For much of his career he was a privateer, a legal pirate with permission from the King of England to loot enemy ships and hunt down other pirates. Privateers were one of the ways the big empires of the day harassed one another.

Lots of stories of his evil nature have come down to us. He was supposed to have been brutal to his crew and was even reported to have buried his Bible, as is shown in this public domain image courtesy Wikimedia Commons. He's also supposed to have buried treasure all over the world. How much of this is true and how much is legend is still hotly debated by historians.

The Quedagh Merchant was an Armenian vessel carrying a rich treasure of gold, silver, and fine cloth that Kidd captured in 1698 off the coast of India. Although the ship was Armenian and was under the protection of the French Crown, it was captained by an Englishman. This got Kidd's status changed from privateer to pirate and from then on he was wanted by the English authorities.

Kidd left the Quedagh Merchant in the Caribbean with a trusted crew as he sailed off on another ship to New York to clear his name, but his "trusted crew" looted the vessel and sunk it. His loss was posterity's gain.

Kidd shouldn't have gone to New York. He was lured to Boston by a supposed friend and then arrested and shipped to England to be put on trial for piracy. The judge found him guilty and sentenced him to hang. His body was left hanging over the River Thames in an iron cage called a gibbet as a warning to others. The museum will be dedicated on May 23, the 310th anniversary of Kidd's execution.

[Image of Captain Kidd rotting in the gibbet courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

Captain Kidd's pirate ship to become underwater museum originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caribbean Tsunami test hopes to save lives

Chris Owen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, North America, Angola, Japan, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, United States, Caribbean, Travel Security

It was planned long before the earthquake-turned-tsunami event in Japan to test the readiness of 33 Caribbean countries in the region's first full-scale tsunami warning exercise. On Wednesday, March 23, a fictitious earthquake of 7.6 magnitude occurred off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bulletins were issued by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island and by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii for the rest of the area and the test was underway.

The Caribbean tsunami test, named Caribe Wave 11 did not involve communities but aimed to test the effectiveness of alert, monitoring and warning systems among all the emergency management organizations throughout the region. The test was designed to determine whether Caribbean countries are ready to respond in the event of a dangerous tsunami. Results will be reported in April.

"The earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan have shown how essential alert systems are," said Irina Bokova, UNESCO's director general.

Continue reading Caribbean Tsunami test hopes to save lives

Caribbean Tsunami test hopes to save lives originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vegetarian passenger tosses meat at flight attendant

Justin Delaney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, North America, Dominican Republic, United States, Airlines, Airports, News, Travel Health, Caribbean

One of the simple truths about air travel is that the food is usually somewhere between sub-par and awful. Sure, there are exceptions, but these are unlikely oases in a desert of damp sodium-rich indelicacies. Unless you are posted up in first class on Singapore Air eating pan-seared Chilean bass in bouillabaisse broth with capsicum confit and zucchini pasta or one of their many other haute options, you will likely be eating a mass-produced goo concocted by scientists rather than chefs.

It seems a brief food revolt began and subsequently ended on a Continental Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic yesterday. According to MSNBC, the flight was bound for Newark, and a vegetarian passenger was served a meat dish that offended her greatly. Instead of politely returning the meal, disgust consumed her. She tossed the meaty tray at a flight attendant in a display of disorderly resentment. Upon landing, the port authority greeted the plane, but the flight attendant declined to press charges.

flickr image via mr wabu

Vegetarian passenger tosses meat at flight attendant originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Chris Owen — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, South America, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Guyana, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Going ashore can be one of the best parts of a cruise and one of the reasons many travelers choose a cruise vacation in the first place. From the comfort of your floating hotel, you can see multiple destinations but only have to unpack once. Cruise lines offer a wide variety of excursions at each port of call and encourage passengers to join. Some are over-priced but carry an implied level of safety that might not be entirely accurate.

The potential scam-like claim here is "Oh, you don't want to go out on your own on a shore excursion. If they're late getting you back, the ship will leave without you"

Yes, they could do that. Will they? Probably not. How likely is that to happen? Not likely at all.

Often, the same companies and people that do shore excursions for the cruise lines also do them independently. Still, the cruise lines say they do investigate and follow up on excursion providers to see how they are doing, holding them to high standards.

Alternatives to ship-sponsored excursions. Shoretrips.com, is a third-party service that provides excursions world-wide. Owners Julie and Barry from Milwaukee, Wisconsin travel to each of the destinations and insure that their tours are safe and interesting. Often, Shoretrips.com excursions are less expensive and less crowded too. Booking more than 200,000 people a year, they have yet to leave someone behind.

Let's talk price. A pretty easy-to-compare excursion in Cozumel, Mexico, Swimming with the Dolphins is $129 for adults or children on Carnival Cruise Lines. Shoretrips.com has that dolphin swim for $79 for adults and $77 for children. That's about 40% less than the cruise line. Prices vary among lines too. Royal Caribbean has that dolphin swim for $99. Their price is better than Carnival but not as good as Shoretrips.com.

Another option is to go with someone recommended by a trusted friend or a travel blogger you've come to know. Reliable independent operators know what they are competing with on the cruise line excursion offerings and almost always offer a better value. That might come in the form of a lower price or a similar price with a better experience.

Get good information. A good source for reliable travel information about specific ports of call is AOL travel guides. Good discussion and very current, personal information can be found at CruiseCritic.com. Your good travel agent/expert should have recommendations also.

I'm really not trying to talk you out of the ship-sponsored shore excursions. They're good. Nothing wrong with them. But there are alternatives that are just as safe (or not) as third-party vendors.

Cruise lines have their share of problems with excursions.

Continue reading Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking: Cruise Line crew accused of smuggling drugs

Chris Owen — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic, Cruises, Caribbean

It looks like more than good times and frosty umbrella drinks were on board Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas earlier this month as crew members were caught red-handed by US officials trying to smuggle heroin and cocaine into Baltimore.

The Baltimore Sun reports a criminal complaint filed by U.S. officials on Tuesday alleges three employees of the cruise line had bought the drugs in the Dominican Republic for resale in the U.S.

Apparently the three crew members had planned on selling those drugs at a local Wal-Mart near the cruise terminal but Customs officials were tipped off by a ship security officer for Royal Caribbean.

According to documents obtained by the Baltimore Sun, agents said they found 700 grams of heroin and 300 grams of cocaine hidden in the waistband and shoes of the crew member, The drugs had been picked up from a Jamaican man in the Dominican Republic, brought on to the ship, to be sold once they reached the United States.

It's not the most unusual method of smuggling we've heard of with Gadling reporting back in November when a man caught with drugs tied to his genitals faces five years in jail, but it makes me wonder why bringing a bottle of wine in my luggage is such a big deal.

Flickr photo by mastersellerphotos

Breaking: Cruise Line crew accused of smuggling drugs originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forgot your passport? Here's a way out!

Tom Johansmeyer — Sat, 22 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic, Caribbean

En route to the Dominican Republic last week, I did something I've never done before: I forgot my passport. I was already out of Manhattan, deep into Queens, and turning back simply wasn't an option. I panicked.

There was no reason for me to forget my passport, something I haven't done in a dozen years of travel as a professional. As I do for every trip, I put my wallet, keys and passport on top of my laptop the night before ... so I wouldn't forget them. I noticed the pile of stuff not to forget the next morning and immediately recognized it as such.

Nonetheless, seated in the backseat of the town car, I realize I'd done what should have been impossible given my insane system. The driver turned his head shortly after I yelled, "Crap!" as one would expect him to do. I repeated the expletive a few times before telling him why. I must not be the first person to have made this mistake in his car, because the driver, from Tel Aviv Limo quickly came up with the perfect solution.

Continue reading Forgot your passport? Here's a way out!

Forgot your passport? Here's a way out! originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 22 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the bees - Puntacana's unexpected practice of beekeeping

Annie Scott — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic, Ecotourism

Last week, I visited Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and was delighted to discover they had a large Ecological Reserve, where they do research into ways the resort can be more environmentally friendly.

The Punta Cana Ecological Foundation has a number of unusual projects including recycling water, using worms to compost their trash and they've even enlisted the minds of students from Harvard to help them develop new ideas for greener properties. I toured their facility and was especially impressed (and terrified) when we arrived at the site above: the bees.

No, they didn't just give the hives cute names; those hives house bees that were taken from the Punta Cana homes of Oscar de la Renta (I understand the bees invaded his wife's bathroom) and Julio Iglesias (who allegedly discovered honey dripping from his ceiling). Rather than exterminate their unwanted pests, Punta Cana encourages its residents to let their hives be removed by the Ecological Foundation, who keeps them and will even gift donors with fresh honey from their very own hives.

As we wandered the area covered with plants intended just for the bees, I talked with Jake Kheel, the Environmental Director, about how the beekeeping works and why they do it. However, as I mentioned, I was terrified -- so I emailed him these questions later when I got my breath back.

Gadling: So, tell us why you've created these homes for bees, rather than exterminating them.

Gallery: Punta Cana Ecological Reserve

Continue reading For the bees - Puntacana's unexpected practice of beekeeping

For the bees - Puntacana's unexpected practice of beekeeping originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Holiday eco-tourism, Oscar de la Renta style

Annie Scott — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic, Ecotourism

Puntacana Resort & Club has recently announced their very first voluntourism package, one which take ornithology to the next level.

Guests of the resort from December 28 to January 4 are invited to accompany Dr. André Dhondt from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology on a yearly census of the 27 indigenous bird species native only to the Dominican Republic. The good doctor will be offering tours of the resort's grounds and lectures on different types of birds, and guests will receive exclusive access to the resort's beautiful Ecological Reserve, as well as guides, binoculars and refreshments, as well as a basic lesson in Caribbean ornithology and an opportunity to "participate in scientific research of native, migratory, and endemic bird species," including the rare Ridgway Hawk.

"People think of eco-tourism as tents and backpacks. The launch of these voluntourism packages means that guests can relax and enjoy their vacation while also helping us take care of a beautiful natural environment. The Oscar de la Renta designed villas at Tortuga Bay, new rooms at the Puntacana Hotel, Six Senses Spa or our golf courses are the perfect locations to unwind after the day's activities," says Puntacana Resort & Club Executive Director of Hospitality Alberto Abreu.

If you're interested in a mid-holiday island getaway with a splash of goodness, visit the website for more information -- and check out the Oscar de la Renta designed villas below (drool-worthy images courtesy of Puntacana Resort & Club)! Rates for this package start at $390 per night for a Deluxe, recently refurbished room at Puntacana Hotel. A portion of the rate will be donated to the Puntacana Ecological Foundation.

Gallery: Oscar de la Renta Designs Villas for Tortuga Bay

Holiday eco-tourism, Oscar de la Renta style originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RockResorts set to arrive in Dominican Republic

Tom Johansmeyer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean

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.

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Gadlinks for Monday 9.28.09

Brenda Yun — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, South America, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Central America

Happy Monday! There's a whole slew of great travel reads to jump start your week, so let's get going!

Heading to the Dominican Republic? Here are a few things you can do that don't involve the beach. [via CNN Travel]
Are you interested in heading somewhere that will lift your spirits? Check out these happy places. [via Brave New Traveler]
Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean you can't be outside. These rooftop bars hit the sweet spot all year 'round. [via Sherman's Travel]
If you've traveled to Argentina or other parts of South America you've likely discovered mate, an amazingly potent tea. This article gives you the historical points of how mate came to be and provide tips on how to best enjoy it. [via BootsNAll]
I just returned from a long trip and, fortunately, I haven't yet experience the post-travel blues. But if you are sad that your travels have come to an end, these creative tips might help! [via Tripbase]

'Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Monday 9.28.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And the happiest place on Earth is ...

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: China, India, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Central America

... not Disney World!

Despite the theme park's claim, Costa Rica actually takes the top spot, according to the New Economics Foundation. This Britain-based independent research firm uses the "Happy Planet Index" to determine and rank the countries with the happiest people. The organization's goal is to build a new economy that focuses on people and the environment.

This year's survey covered 143 countries, with Latin American claiming nine of the top 10 positions in the study. The Dominican Republic took second, followed by Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam.

If you live in a developed nation, it seems, you're probably unhappy. Great Britain took 74th, and the United States came in at 114. But, the latter is happier than it was 20 years ago. China and India are also fairly unhappy, but mostly because they are pursuing aggressive economic growth.

Now, the results are skewed because ecological implications account for a substantial portion of how happy a country is. The study assumes that the further you are from carbon-neutral, the unhappier you are. I'm down for going green, but I really struggle to see how it plays such a large role in a country's happiness.

And the happiest place on Earth is ... originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tourist Dollars to Pay for Warplanes in Dominican Republic

Josh Lew — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic will use a $20 entry tax charged to foreign visitors to pay for 8 turbo-prop Super Tucano combat planes. Lawmakers in Santo Domingo have been working on a plan to fund their air force's expansion for almost two years. However, it was not until this week that the plan was approved. The overall cost of the order is $93.7 million. Last year, 3 million tourists came to the Dominican Republic. Similar numbers in the coming year will mean $60 million in revenue from the entry tax.

The Super Tucano is used by many Caribbean and South American nations. It is used extensively in Brazil to patrol the Amazon rain forest and to train combat pilots.

What does this mean for tourists headed to resorts like Punta Cana or to Santo Domingo? Their wallets will be $20 lighter. As far as having any qualms about funding the military, don't worry, unless you like your cocaine. The government has been struggling with drug smugglers who use the D.R. as a stopping off point on the way to more lucrative destinations in the US. The new planes will probably be used for anti-smuggling purposes and to patrol the border with Haiti.

[Via Dominican Today]

Tourist Dollars to Pay for Warplanes in Dominican Republic originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More on Caribbean travel

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Travel Deals, Caribbean

This Sunday's Columbus Dispatch travel section is devoted to Caribbean travel. With this morning's post on Caribbean vacations, written before the Sunday paper arrived on my front porch, I'm wondering if I'm getting a message.

One article, "Caribbean offers comfort for less cash" by David Swanson points out an option not mentioned in today's earlier post--Tobago. After reading about all of Tobago's high points, I'm hesitant to let the word out because, frankly, I want the bargains to be there when I show up.

Here's why Tobago sounds fantastic:

Continue reading More on Caribbean travel

More on Caribbean travel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cockpit Chronicles: The airline industry's newest business model: Desperate Housewives.

Kent Wien — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Barbados, Dominican Republic, Airlines, Transportation, The Cockpit Chronicles

There are some advantages to flying a reserve schedule every now and then. I prefer the variety and the thought that just maybe I'll get called out to cover a New York trip to Zurich or Brussels. It's rare, but it has happened before.

For April, I didn't fly anywhere I hadn't flown before, and they managed to use me on almost every one of my available days. Having just arrived home from the Miami and San Francisco trip, crew scheduling already needed me for another early morning departure. This time they had me fly down to Miami and deadhead home on the same day.

It was hardly worthy of a full Cockpit Chronicles. I rode home in the coach cabin and slept most of the way. Fortunately, we're required to have at least one day off every 7 days, and crew scheduling decided I could use one.

This meant that I'd have a small stretch of three days in a row before my month would be over. There's always the chance that a three-day trip could pop up if someone called in sick, but I was pretty sure I'd have the last few days off.

My wife gets nervous when I tell her that there's little chance they could use me. Don't worry, I'll be home to take you and the kids to the airport for your trip to Germany, I'm sure! I figured I'd flown too many hours to be legal for another three-day trip. I should have listened to my wife. She knew I'd get the call.

Gallery: Cockpit Chronicles: Punta Cana

Continue reading Cockpit Chronicles: The airline industry's newest business model: Desperate Housewives.

Cockpit Chronicles: The airline industry's newest business model: Desperate Housewives. originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Air Transat makes emergency landing for sick passengers

Anna Brones — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Canada, Dominican Republic, Airlines, Travel Health

A plane flying from the Dominican Republic to Canada made an emergency landing Tuesday night in Florida when several of the passengers became ill. When the Air Transat Flight 477 landed at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport, eight passengers were wheeled off to the hospital as a precaution.

The Center for Disease Control stated that they were not sure what caused the illness but that it appeared to be something the passengers ate or drank. I was tempted to make a comment about the state of airplane food, but it turns out they were all family members who had eaten together before boarding the plane.

Air Transat makes emergency landing for sick passengers originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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