Continue reading Five ways to get the person in the seat next to you to stop talking

Five ways to get the person in the seat next to you to stop talking originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Avoid swine flu this holiday season - kiss, don't shake originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 5 ways to thwart homesickness

5 ways to thwart homesickness originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Italian answer to swine flu--automatic holy water dispensers originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm a one of the those people who always seems to get sick after a long plane ride. A few days post-trip, I suddenly get a runny nose, sore throat and all the other telltale signs of a cold, most likely contracted from a sick passenger. Usually it's minor, and I'm out of commission for only a few days.

I guess I've just been lucky that it hasn't been the flu, because, according to a recent TripAdvisor survey, over 50% of travelers would choose flying with the flu over paying a fee to change their flight. As if we needed more reason to get a flu shot before we travel this season, now we know that someone with the flu may end up on our flight, just to avoid the fee.

Out of 2,327 people, 51% said they would fly while sick with the flu rather than pay the $150-$200 fee (plus any change in price) imposed by most airlines in order to change their flights to a later date. This is obviously, alarming news, but I can see why it is the case that people would rather cough up some germs on their fellow passengers than cough up the extra cash to change the tickets. Especially because costs for the new dates will often be higher, meaning you may end up paying more like $300-$400 per ticket for the change.

Continue reading 50% of air travelers will fly with the flu to avoid a fee

50% of air travelers will fly with the flu to avoid a fee originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

British backpackers spreading sexually transmitted diseases originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Our Sex and the Woods friends offer up some hilarious advice and commentary on travel romance in the age of social media. [via Wend]
  
• Easter Island is overloaded with tourists, and it's not good for the environment. [via The Economist]
• If you missed Burning Man this year -- or have yet to experience it, this is a really fascinating photo essay of one of the world's craziest desert parties. [via Tripbase]
• Even if you don't like dressing up, here are 31 places to enjoy Halloween. [via BootsNAll]
• There are plenty of bad travel illnesses out there. Here are the world's worst travel diseases. [via Vagabondish]

Gadlinks for Friday 10.16.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Even with the best of plans, tragedies happen. A mountain side is too steep, the terrain too rugged, one turns left instead of right, and a person can take a tumble. That's what happened on Tuesday when two hikers veered slightly off-course on Teewinot Mountain in the Grand Teton National Park. One of them slipped and tumbled 300-feet. The tumble killed him.

According to Kurt Repanshek's post in the National Park Traveler, the two men, Eliot Kalmbach and Jon Winiasz, both in their early twenties, hadn't planned to do any major climbing so they weren't wearing helmets or carrying climbing gear. They had talked to park rangers to find out where they should hike before they headed out a couple days before the accident and were following the rangers' suggestions except that they mistakenly headed across a steeper section of Teewinot after a night of camping at Lupine Meadows. That's where Kalmbach fell.

Fortunately, Winaisz was able to reach Kalmbach to use his cell phone to call for help. Kalmbach, however was already not breathing and didn't have a pulse. Thankfully, the rescue of both men took less than three hours. Winaisz was lifted out within two.

This story reminds me of a similar one that happened years ago when one of my husband's close friends fell to his death in Glacier National Park. My husband worked with this friend at the park's Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier and remembers exactly what it was like waiting for the body to be recovered. His friend's death is something he recalls as being one of the worst events of his life.

I can't imagine what Winiasz is going through after what sounds like a blissful adventure with a friend turned into a trip that he'll never forget for such a horrible reason. How very sad.

Continue reading Tragedy in the Grand Tetons is a warning to stay on firm footing

Tragedy in the Grand Tetons is a warning to stay on firm footing originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Luggage? Check. Passport? Check. Flu shot? If you've yet to get yours, you can take care of the task on the way to your next flight at clinics set up in several airports around the US.

Among the nearly 20 airports that will be offering flu shots beginning within the next few weeks are Atlanta, Boston Logan, O'Hare, Denver, Honolulu, LAX, JFK, and San Francisco. Costs range from $20 to $35, which is about what you'd pay at most clinics, unless your insurance covers it. Hours vary by location, but all are open from at least 8am to 4pm on weekdays. Currently, airport locations are only offering the regular seasonal flu vaccine. The H1N1 flu vaccine may be offered at these locations when it becomes available.

I'll confess: I have never gotten a flu shot. I try my best to avoid being poked with a needle so the thought of actually requesting it seems counter-intuitive. I know I should get it though. 200,000 people were hospitalized for the flu last year, and travelers like myself who spend a lot of time breathing recycled air in the close quarters of planes may be at an increased risk. There's also this little thing you may have heard of, called the H1N1 "swine" flu, which the CDC expects will reach pandemic proportions. It just makes sense to get the vaccine. And now getting a flu shot won't even require a special trip to my doctor. I'm out of excuses. I may have to muster up some courage at the airport bar first, but it looks like my next vacation will start off with a flu shot.

Check out full details on airport clinic hours and costs here.

Going on a trip? Stop and get a flu shot at the airport originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's a recent CNN article about a flight attendant who became ill after working a flight back in 2007. Her illness is alarming.

First, she felt as though she were coming down with a cold; then her nasal discharge was a neon green -- the color of antifreeze! Since then, she claims to have suffered chronic migraine headaches, tingling in her feet, loss of balance and vision problems.

These health problems did not happen without warning. Right before her ailments started, the attendant noticed a "misty haze type of smoke" in the cabin of the American Airlines MD-82 plane. The haze occurred right after the plane landed and was heading to the gate.

Continue reading Is airplane air toxic?

Is airplane air toxic? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Love aquariums? Check out this stunning video of the aquatic life at Okinawa's Churaumi Aquarium. They've even got a couple whale sharks in there! [Via Buzzfeed]
  
• For all you East-Coasters hungry for some waves: why not head down to North Carolina's Outer Banks? This surfing slideshow should help get you in the mood. [Via The New York Times]
• The economic downtown has caused plenty of consumers to cut back on unnecessary spending. That's not the case though for Japan's infamous love hotels, where business seems to be booming. Find out why. [Via BBC News]
  
• New Zealand is an outdoor-lover's paradise, filled with green forests, unspoiled beaches and majestic mountains. If you're thinking about going, consider renting yourself a camper van for maximum flexibility (and fun). [Via L.A. Times]
• Get out the hand sanitizer - here's a list of the world's most germ-infested tourist attractions. Gross. [Via CNN]
  

Gadlinks (7.21.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We've covered amusement park accidents in the past. Here's another one. In an unfortunate mishap at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida a football player from the University of Southern Florida found his good deed costing him. Maikon Bonani was working at the gondola ride when he thought the door of one of the cars wasn't latched as it was leaving the station.

With quick thinking he grabbed onto the door in an effort to keep it closed. Unfortunately, as the gondola of the sky ride went up into the air, so did he. Eventually, he let go and fell 35 feet. Luckily the area below was landscaped and not asphalt.

Bonani is in fair condition and it sounds as if he'll recover--I hope. Of course, the park is reviewing safety procedures. One of the morals of this story is that if you are at an amusement park and fall 35 feet, be in good shape with well developed muscles. It does wonders for the outcome. Plus, make sure you hear that clink shut of the latch of any ride you climb into. It helps to pay attention.

As for the passengers who were riding in the gondola when Maikon Bonani fell. Can you imagine? That Busch Garden vacation turned out much differently than they ever imagined. [AP article]

Gondola accident at Busch Gardens in Florida: Football player tumbles originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We've written about urine on plane seats. We've written about finding a hypodermic needle under a plane seat and an empty vial nearby. We've also written about things left behind in seat pockets--unpleasant things. To read such stories, one might think that plane seats are a bio hazard. One might be tempted to suit up in a hazmat suit like Mike did for his stay at the Hotel Carter in New York City.

If you're one of those people who is a bit concerned about what you'll catch when you travel with people who are crammed into a cylinder shape for a trip that may or may not get there on time, here's a possible solution.

Plane Sheets. They come in two sizes, and according to the Web site, are a great way to personalize and tidy up your allotted space.

Of course, there's no guarantee about what the people you're wedged between will be up to or how they'll feel when you cover up your plane seat. They might think you're a weirdo. Or, perhaps, they might make you an offer.

Plane sheets: Make that flight clean and cozy originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading A Super Dining Option at Westin Hotels and Resorts

A Super Dining Option at Westin Hotels and Resorts originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Indonesian Minister: Tourists should wear masks originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If hiking the Bright Angel Trail, or any other trail that leads down into the Grand Canyon is the stuff of your dreams, be warned--it isn't the easiest thing to do. Sure, going down is fine. That path of switchbacks, often with mule pee at every turn, beckons downward. "This is swell, " you might say to yourself. "Isn't the Grand Canyon grand?"

Sure. It's spectacular. The Grand Canyon is probably one of the most glorious, breathtaking sights I've seen in my life, and I've seen a lot--not to brag, just saying. But that alluring trip down towards the Colorado River that formed such majesty can be hell on the way back up. It can even give people a heart attack.

Continue reading Grand Canyon hiking: Tips on how not to have a heart attack

Grand Canyon hiking: Tips on how not to have a heart attack originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Matador's given us 6 reasons to travel without a plan. I'm sure I could come up with at least four more -- the first of which would be FREEDOM!
  
• If you're heading to Asia and need help planning your adventure, the New York Times has some helpful Southeast Asia budgeting tips.
• I've long been a proponent of solo travel, so when I came across Beth Whitman's perspective on solo travel, I found myself nodding and smiling.
  
• Who said Latin Americans were carnivores? BootsNAll's vegetarian tips for South America proves you can go there and eat to your vegetarian heart's content.
  

Gadlinks for Friday 6.26.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While the English countryside is generally a safe and relaxing place to hike, tragically a woman has died after being trampled by stampeding cattle. The incident occurred along the popular Pennine Way in Yorkshire on Sunday. The victim was crossing a field in which there was a herd of cattle, a common enough occurrence on English country walks. The cattle apparently panicked at the sight of her two dogs and attacked.

This is the second such death in as many years. Last year a woman was killed in Suffolk in the same manner, and two weeks ago former Home Secretary David Blunkett was injured by a cow after it was startled by Blunkett's seeing eye dog.

Late spring and early summer are popular times for hiking in England, but it is also the time of year that cattle give birth to calves and will become aggressive if they think their young are threatened. As I continue my series on English country walks, keep in mind that hiking always has its dangers and check out these safety precautions from the Ramblers, England's premiere hiking organization. For cattle, it recommends that you should never get between a cow and her calf, and if they go after your dog, to let it off the leash. The dog can generally get away and the cows will go after the animal, allowing you a chance to escape.

Hiker trampled to death by cattle originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For my money, New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof is one of the best in the business. His dogged reporting on the atrocities in Darfur has brough much-needed attention to that region, and his yearly "Win a trip to Africa with Nick Kristof" contest inspires young people all over the world to consider visiting a part of the world they ordinarily wouldn't.

So I was happy to see in Kristof's most recent column a list of travel tips for, among other things, evading bandits, surviving bus rides, and holding on to your cash. Here's a sample of a few:

• "Remember that the scariest people aren't warlords, but drivers. In buses I sometimes use my pack as an airbag; after one crash I was the only passenger not hospitalized."
• "If you're a woman held up in an isolated area, stick out your stomach, pat it and signal that you're pregnant. You might also invest in a cheap wedding band, for imaginary husbands deflect unwanted suitors."
• "If you are held up by bandits with large guns, shake hands respectfully with each of your persecutors. It's very important to be polite to people who might kill you. Surprisingly often, child soldiers and other bandits will reciprocate your fake friendliness and settle for some cash rather than everything you possess. I've even had thugs warmly exchange addresses with me, after robbing me."
• "[D]on't be so cautious that you miss the magic of escaping your comfort zone and mingling with local people and staying in their homes. The risks are minimal compared with the wonders of spending time in a small village. So take a gap year, or volunteer in a village or a slum. And even if everything goes wrong and you are robbed and catch malaria, shrug it off - those are precisely the kinds of authentic interactions with local cultures that, in retrospect, enrich a journey and life itself."

Well said! Check out the full list here. Elsewhere, I defended Kristof's anti-anti-sweatshop stance here.

Travel tips from New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Being on a cruise seems luxurious enough. To add to the glam and relaxation, though, consider a spa visit. Frankly, if I were on a cruise, I'm not sure if I would need a spa--the cruise seems like it might be enough pleasure. On second thought, a person to massage my feet would be nice--a person from Thailand, perhaps.

If you are that person who wants to add the best spa experience to your trip, and I'm starting to think I am, here are five ship spas to check out. A tweet from TomTravel2 led me to what makes them stand outs in the crowd. As he said, how can one pick out five best? Still, they are touted by msnbc as being the five at the top. The more I read about them, the more that massage seems sweet indeed. [photo by kikaski]

Continue reading Top 5 cruise ship spas

Top 5 cruise ship spas originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 31 May 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.