Continue reading A review of Cheapflights.com's "Travelnomics: Calling on Cuba" guide

A review of Cheapflights.com's "Travelnomics: Calling on Cuba" guide originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Travel industry research firm PhoCusWright's new study puts the amount spent on leisure and unmanaged business travel (i.e., employee picks for himself) at £17.1 billion for 2009, comprising 45 percent of all bookings for the year in the UK. So, a hefty portion of the industry over there is seeing some growth.

Meanwhile, the overall UK travel business is expected to shrink by 8.9 percent this year, with gross bookings dropping to around £37.6 billion. So, the online world is holding its own while the rest of the market gets spanked. For the near-term, PhoCusWright says, the "outlook is bleak." The UK travel business should reach 2007 levels in 2012 (ouch).

"British travelers have had to cope with currency devaluation on top of the recession, and both have driven significant changes in travel patterns," says Carroll Rheem, director, research at PhoCusWright.

Continue reading UK online bookings to grow this year

UK online bookings to grow this year originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• I love companies that give back. Here are five travel outlets that make giving part of buying. [via Jaunted]
• Yikes! As a single female traveler, I've been wary of couchsurfing. This give me more reason to avoid couchsurfing altogether. [via True/Slant]
• I read this article on the plane recently and was really moved by what this graffiti artist is doing to share his vision of the world. [via Hemispheres]
• This is a nice, comprehensive guide to wine tasting in South America. [via BootsNAll]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Friday 11.6.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Expedia drops telephone booking fees originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I suffer from serious anxiety while flying. I've tried learning about the mechanics of flight, popping Xanax, I've even taken a flight lesson in an effort to cure my fear. Sometimes I can stay calm, but on other flights, for apparently no reason, I'll suddenly have a panic attack. It's more than a small problem.

For people like me, Virgin Atlantic has created a new iPhone app based on their Flying without Fear class. According to a press release, their course has a 98% success rate for helping fearful flyers cope. The iPhone app takes elements of the course (which recently helped Whoopi Goldberg manage her fear) and offers a mobile solution for use during the flight. Passengers can watch a video explanation of how planes work, read answers to frequently asked questions, and follow along with deep breathing and relaxation techniques.

There's also a "fear attack" button for emergencies. The problem with that idea being, of course, that when I truly panic - shaking and hyperventilating - I don't really have the capacity to hit my fear button and read and process the information. I'm too busy trying not to cry. But perhaps reviewing the information beforehand might help if a moment of panic strikes.

The Flying without Fear course usually costs about $350; the iPhone app is $4.99 in the iTunes store. Even if the app only helps a little, it sounds like a sound investment to me.

New Virgin Atlantic iPhone app helps people with a fear of flying originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Plan your airport layover with T+L's Airport Navigator originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Social networking capabilities
• Coach-led practice sessions
• Engaging language games and access to native speakers
• Encouragement from customer success agents

Continue reading Rosetta Stone TOTALe - Can you really learn a language online?

Rosetta Stone TOTALe - Can you really learn a language online? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Empire State Building colors explained! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Joie de Vivre deals: Mobile Mondays, Twitter Tuesdays, Facebook Fridays originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Carol Rheem, director, research at PhoCusWright, says, "As Europeans seek to make the most of their treasured time off this year, they are increasingly using online options to plan the best holiday for their budget." She continues, "Online travel agencies are weathering this economic storm better than any other booking channel."

Though there's still room for some sort of surprise by the end of the year (not likely), the European online travel space is expected to see gross bookings of €23 billion when we close the book on 2009, with supplier websites lagging online travel agencies.

"Even in the bleak travel backdrop of 2009, some travel companies are thriving -- and not all of them are OTAs [online travel agencies]. Countercyclical trends bolster these companies while exacerbating decline for others. Those dependent on business travelers are among the hardest hit," Rheem observes. Business travel is expected to be off 17 percent for the year.

Europeans still booking travel online originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The FTC rule requires disclosure only by bloggers - traditional media outlets will not be affected, despite the fact that they receive plenty of swag ... and that we (the bloggers) learned it from them. If the goal is to help the consumer make an informed decision, this rule will only "help" blog readers and leave consumers of traditional media exposed.

Beyond the question of fairness, though, there's a greater issue: practicality. Especially in the travel space, the trips and gear provided by hotels, restaurants, manufacturers and their publicists is a vital part of how we can provide more than mere reblogs of "man pukes on a plane." Original travel content comes at a cost. Travel writers need to be out on the road to be effective, and even 12 months of discount travel can add up quickly. For readers interested in luxury and upscale experiences (and there are many here and at Luxist, where I also write), it would be impossible for impoverished bloggers to deliver first-hand accounts of these destinations.

It can be tough to understand the role that comp'ed travel can play in an operation such as Gadlings - or that of any other publication that covers travel. So, to help clarify the issues involved, here are 10 factors that help make sponsored press trips effective.

Continue reading Free press travel: necessary ... and certainly not an evil

Free press travel: necessary ... and certainly not an evil originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

According to Perrin, Jetsetter is a "flash-sale site that negotiates with noteworthy hotels, cruise lines, and other luxe travel suppliers to offer slashed rates unavailable to the general public." Those who get on the email list will receive a notice of the next days' sales each night at 8pm. Each sale lasts just two days, or until the availability runs out.

Sounds pretty cool, right? I used Perrin's link to sign and up and browse some of the current....um, sales, and found that there are some deep discounts offered here. But remember, this is a luxury travel site. Half off of $800 is still way out of my price range. Budget travelers may have a harder time finding a deal they can afford....but it's not impossible. One deal currently being offered is a Superior Queen Guestroom at the West Hollywood Sunset Tower for $129 (as opposed to the usual $225-$275). The discounted, but still $650 a night, Asia cruise is probably a little less affordable for most people.

Perrin was able to offer the exclusive sign-up link through Conde Nast's new partnership with Jetsetter, which is a member of the Gilt Groupe. Each month, Jetsetter will offer special deals on products and services sold by some of the magazines advertisers.

Sign up for flash-sale alerts with Jetsetter.com originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The folks over at Jaunted posted a story yesterday about a friendly-looking family who dropped their camera at some point while on a trip to Maui. A good Samaritan found the camera and posted one of the pics on Reddit last week, along with a plea for help in locating the family so that their camera could be returned.

According to HalogenLife, in a prime example of the power of social media, the family was located and the camera is on its way to be reunited with its rightful owners.

That news in itself is pretty cool. But what I found even more interesting is that there are apparently several websites dedicated to helping people recover their lost cameras. On Ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com photos from orphan cameras are posted each Thursday. I haven't lost a camera recently, but I think I may become addicted to scrolling through the pics looking for familiar faces. There's got to be someone I know on the site, right?

Jaunted has a better, smarter solution for digital camera owners though. Write your name and contact information on a card and snap a picture of it. Lock it on your memory drive and internal memory and voila - electronic dog tags for your camera! If someone should find the camera and scroll through your photos, they can easily get in touch via the info you've provided. You know, if they aren't just going to keep your camera for themselves.

Help for lost cameras originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Free WiFi on Virgin America this Holiday season originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Everybody loves to publish lists, but few have so much data as OpenTable upon which to draw. So, when that site puts out a list of top spots, it's definitely worth a look. The latest, "Fit for Foodies," is the result of 3 million restaurant reviews, which ultimately led to 50 restaurants that are definitely worth your time. Upon quick inspection, I haven't been to any of them (which probably makes the list even more legit -- my palate is disappointingly simple).

What's pleasantly surprising is that there don't appear to be many clichés. Rather than go with critic favorites, this list runs down what eaters dig, so if you find yourself in one of the 13 states represented, ditch the guidebook and take a stab at what turns the locals on.

Unsurprisingly, California turned in the greatest presence, with 15 of the spots on the list (30 percent of the total). New York came in with nine (18 percent). After that, it gets interesting. Illinois gives us seven restaurants, Massachusetts and Washington (state) three and Louisiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas responsible for two. Georgia, South Carolina and Maine each posted one.

Click here to see who made the top 50 >>

Ground-level intelligence on the top restaurants in the country originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Enjoy free Gogo inflight internet on your next American Airlines flight originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Where to research and book eco-friendly travel

Where to research and book eco-friendly travel originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• It's sometimes a daunting task navigating the travel world on the Web. That's why you should read this handy guide to new travel sites for niche markets. [via MSNBC Travel]
• I'd like to think that every beach in the world's worth visiting, but it appears some beaches are rather dangerous and might best be avoided. [via Open Travel]
  
• Considering how friendly the Japanese are, it should come as no surprise that hitchhiking in Japan is pretty darn easy. [via BootsNAll]
  
• I admit it! I've been the victim of a major travel scam. (Never trust street vendors in Naples, Italy. Actually don't trust anyone in Naples). To avoid being the victim educate yourself on the anatomy of a travel scam. [via Vagablogging]
  

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.14.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So, how can you tell? You don't want to be unreasonable with gate agents, concierges and taxi drivers, but you also shouldn't have to be a pushover. When is it okay to leave a shitty tip? When should you stand up for yourself when a driver doesn't arrive at your door on time? It can be harder than you think to navigate these areas of travel ethics. So, after the jump, take a look at 10 ways to spot genuinely awful customer service. Even if you are more patient than I am, these are of a caliber that will guarantee you're not out of your mind for being pissed.

1. You are greeted with some variation of "not my fault"
This one is in the top spot for a reason. There is nothing worse than having a driver, flight attendant or any other travel industry employee use those three words. Why? There very utterance implies that there is a problem. Would someone give you a comp'ed spa treatment and say, "Not my fault?" Of course not! Further, the phrase actually puts you on the defensive. You're mad because you didn't get what you expected, and the service provider is telling you that what you feel is inappropriate.

Continue reading Five ways to spot awful customer service

Five ways to spot awful customer service originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been following my recent posts on the latest happenings around Monterey and Carmel (a.k.a. read my posts about the scenic Monterey coastline or taking a tour of Carmel's wine country), then it shouldn't come as a huge shock to you that I've fallen in love all over again with coastal California this summer. I guess I'm not alone -- and that I don't have to be, either!

In celebration of the release of its six new and fully updated California guidebooks (Coastal California , Tahoe, Monterey & Carmel, Northern California, Southern California and California Beaches), Moon Handbooks is giving away a copy of its Moon Monterey & Carmel, along with four tickets (admission for two adults and two children) to the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. That means you and three friends can enjoy a full day of fun in Monterey. Of course, if you're there, you might as well make a weekend of it, right?

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is submit your full name, mailing address, and phone number (for shipping purposes only) to giveaway@moon.com by midnight on October 18th. One winner will be selected at random and announced on the staff blog the week of October 19th.

In addition to the giveaway, California trip ideas, and guest blog posts by Liz Hamill Scott, the author of several of Moon's California guides, can be found this week on the site.

Moon Monterey & Carmel Giveaway originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.