Travel Tonic

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 17th 2010 through August 18th 2010:

• Last-Minute Weekend Deals: Extended Stay Hotels from $23.99/night – I found this article over on Road Warrior: Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 8/20 through 8/22) and next weekend (stays 8/27 through 8/29) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save…

  Read the rest at www.roadwarriortips.com

• Florence challenges Rome for Michelangelo’s David – Kate Appleton recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy midnightglory/Flickr)
• Hipmunk Is a Fantastic, Surprisingly Usable Flight Search Site [Search Engines] – Lifehacker's Adam Pash just posted this article:
  

  

  Web site Hipmunk re-imagines flight search, translating the information you're most interested in to a user-friendly chart of possible flights. More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Don’t Let Your Frequent Flyer Miles Expire – Smarter Travel has posted some info about s miles: While it's easier than ever to lose one's miles to harsher expiration policies, it's also easier than ever to keep them alive.

  Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

• Fly Anywhere and As Often As You Like for a Month with JetBlue’s All You Can Jet [Deals] – Lifehacker's Adam Pash just posted this article:
  

  If you've got an open schedule and a few hundred bucks to burn, airline JetBlue's running an "All You Can Jet" program from September 7 to October 6 that allows you to fly anywhere JetBlue does as often as you want for a flat rate. $699 will buy you travel anywhere you want, as often as you want, seven days a week. $500 will get you the same, but excluding travel on Fridays and Sundays. For more details, hit up the offer page. [JetBlue All You Can Jet via Gizmodo] More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 16th 2010 through August 17th 2010:

• The best flight search tool you���ve never heard of – Nina Willdorf recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  It should come as no surprise that I���m a bit of an obsessive when it comes to searching for flights online. This is my job, after all, and I pursue flight search with the same fervor that I seek out a sweet sample sale deal.

  My secret tool, however, is now out for public consumption, and I guess I consider it my responsibility to share it with the world.

  Meet ITASoftware.com. If you can remember the clunky URL, you will be happy. ITA Software, which was recently acquired by Google for a cool $700 million in cash and stands for ���Innovative Travel Technology,��� is a travel data clearinghouse that supplies everyone from Bing to Orbitz to Kayak with all of their flight info. That���s right. Most search engines pull the same information; they just slice it and deliver it in different ways.

  ITA Software isn���t new; it was founded in 1996 by MIT computer scientists. But the owners have given it a face lift that makes it more palatable for public consumption. While it used to look like it was built, in fact, in 1996, the site has been upgraded and streamlined, with one of those handy matrices that lays out all the options. They���ve even created something I���ve never seen before: a sideways chart detailing flight options by time, using color-coded time bars. Their new free, 4-star app, ���OntheFly��� makes detailed search totally doable via an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

  Neither the site nor the app allows for booking. It just gives you all the tools at your fingertips, and lets you customize search as you see fit, and you can be sure you���re seeing everything that exists. Where you choose to book your preferred flight combo—via the airline directly or an OTA (Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, Kayak)—is entirely up to you.

• New York City: The 7 Best Restaurants for Kids (and Grown-Ups) – posted this over on Frommer's : Don't be shy about taking your children to these seven kid-friendly restaurants, which are a culinary treat for adults, too.

  

  New York City – United States – New York – Metro Areas – New York City Metro

• Best Hawaiian Hikes: 6 Fit for the Family – posted this over on Frommer's : Put on your hiking boots and you'll discover a new view of paradise.

  

  Hiking – Outdoors – Recreation – United States – Footwear

• Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure –
  flightglobal.com
  (6)

  flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE  16.08.2010 11.13.56

  Avtips: RT @flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE  16.08.2010 12.36.12

  Flightglobal: RT @flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE  16.08.2010 11.27.00

  FlyersView: RT @Avtips: RT @flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE  16.08.2010 12.53.37

  AirlineReporter: RT @flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE  16.08.2010 11.48.29

  AircrewBuzz: RT @flightblogger: Breaking: Rolls-Royce investigating Trent 1000 engine failure http://bit.ly/bJ2jVE #aviation #aircraft $BA  16.08.2010 12.02.45

  posted by friends of friends:  (0)

  retweet
• Tweet evidence that Southwest is offering Wi-Fi for $5 (right now) –

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 15th 2010 through August 16th 2010:

• Aircrew Buzz: Unique Jeppesen Approach Plate: The Hudson Miracle Approach –
  aircrewbuzz.com
  by B. N. Sullivan Several days ago, a pilot friend sent me an email with a most interesting attachment. It seems that Jeppesen, the universally well-known publisher of aeronautical charts, had produced a special edition approach chart, detailing the Hudson Miracle Approach, as performed by the crew of Cactus 1549, the US Airways A320 that famously and successfully ditched in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.  I'm told that the approach plate was handed out  at  the EAA AirVe..   show all text

  (2)

  flightblogger: Read Sullys autobiography. Xcelnt! RT @AircrewBuzz: Unique Jeppesen Approach Plate: Hudson Miracle Approach http://ow.ly/2pSrX #aviation  16.08.2010 02.47.35

  AircrewBuzz: Unique Jeppesen Approach Plate: The Hudson Miracle Approach http://ow.ly/2pSrX #aviation #cool  16.08.2010 01.08.56

  posted by friends of friends:  (0)

  retweet
• Eight Nights in India, from $2,399 With Air – posted this over on Frommer's : This eight-night India tour includes visits to religious sites, temples, and major sightseeing attractions, including the Taj Mahal.

  

  Taj Mahal – India – Uttar Pradesh – Agra – Asia

• Holiday Travel: Five Ways to Save on Thanksgiving, Christmas Trips – Smarter Travel has posted some info about best time: If you're traveling during the holidays, advance prep is key. But how early is too early? When's the best time to book? Find out!

  Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

• Aircrew Buzz: Unique Jeppesen Approach Plate: The Hudson Miracle Approach –
  aircrewbuzz.com
  by B. N. Sullivan Several days ago, a pilot friend sent me an email with a most interesting attachment. It seems that Jeppesen, the universally well-known publisher of aeronautical charts, had produced a special edition approach chart, detailing the Hudson Miracle Approach, as performed by the crew of Cactus 1549, the US Airways A320 that famously and successfully ditched in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.  I'm told that the approach plate was handed out  at  the EAA AirV..   show all text
  flightblogger: RT @maggielang: Read Sullys autobiography. Xcelnt! RT @AircrewBuzz: Unique Jeppesen Approach Plate: Hudson Miracle Approach http://ow.ly/2pSrX #aviation 
• Skating the Roads of Paris – In Transit Blog – NYTimes.com –
  intransit.blogs.nytimes.com
  There are plenty of ways to get around Paris: metro, taxis, biking. To that list, add in-line skating.
  nytimestravel: Skating the Roads of Paris http://nyti.ms/aoJ61y 

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 13th 2010 through August 14th 2010:

• LAN and TAM do not expect changes to aircraft orders –
  flightglobal.com
  FlyersView: RT @FG_Airlines: LAN and TAM do not expect changes to aircraft orders: http://bit.ly/azYEis 
• From Twitter – via @KAYAK Google Maps Add a Feature for Bike Riders http://nyti.ms/bzWNj3 (@Michellehiggins)

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 13th 2010

• Ohio: World’s Bravest and Finest face off in weeklong competition – Danielle Lipp recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Starting this weekend, 750-plus of the world's most fearless police officers and firefighters will gather in Dublin, Ohio, a northwestern suburb of Columbus, to duke it out in the 2010 Can-Am Police-Fire Games. The international Olympics-style competition, held every two years, pits public safety personnel against one another in 58 sporting contests to promote fitness and camaraderie. This year's event, which runs August 15 to 22, will host competitors from 38 different states and provinces and nine countries.

• The end of the lapchild? – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that all passengers — kids under the age of 2 included — have their own seats on planes. That'd mean infants would no longer be allowed to sit in their parents laps, and they would no longer fly for free.

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 13th 2010

• Be a Perfect Guest in the 21st Century [Etiquette] – Lifehacker's Jason Fitzpatrick just posted this article:
  

  

  Your mother's missive to "Be polite!" might suffice to help you get by as a tolerable guest. But if you really want to shine as an exceptional and always-welcome guest, you may want to add a trick or two to your traveling bag. More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• The Best Airlines for Getting a Frequent Flyer Seat [Charts] – Lifehacker's Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  

  Just because you've earned a free ticket through an airlines' rewards program doesn't mean you can actually use it. One consulting firm checked how often free ticket seats were available across 60,000 flights this year and charted the sometimes surprising results. More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 12th 2010

• Airfare Deals and News for the Week of Aug. 13, 2010 – posted this over on Frommer's : A Porter Airlines promo code for Canada flights, a 2-for-1 sale from South African Airways, and airline etiquette: Are you the annoying passenger?

  

  Porter Airlines – Airline – Canada – South African Airways – Transportation

• Traveling Safely With Pets – Smarter Travel has posted some info about ed perkins: While you may enjoy your vacation more when you have your pet with you, traveling with Rover or Mittens can be dangerous to the pet's health. Ed Perkins explains your options.

  Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 12th 2010

• Your blog editor says good-bye – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  The ESB as seen from the top of Rockefeller Center (fergusonphotography/Flickr)
• The Pay-As-You-Go SIM Wiki Outlines Prepaid Data Offerings Overseas [Saving Money] – Lifehacker's Whitson Gordon just posted this article:
  

  

  Going overseas soon, and looking for a prepaid phone plan? Wiki community Wikia has a great wiki that lists information on getting pay-as-you-go data plans for your SIM card (without paying tons of money) all over the world. More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

Bringing you what’s new in travel for August 11th 2010 through August 12th 2010:

• Matrix Is the No-Nonsense Flight Pricing Engine that Powers the Others [Air Travel] – Lifehacker's Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  

  ITA Software's Matrix is the software that powers Orbitz, Kayak, CheapTickets, and lots of airlines and travel agents' tools. But you can skip all their ads and come-ons and search Matrix itself for the no-nonsense scoop on flying cheap. More »
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• From Twitter – RT @SeeAustralia 83yr old Lloyd Poulton has just climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge for the 30th time http://bit.ly/19ZWTG