Travel Tonic

Bringing you what’s new in travel for March 3rd 2010

• London Controversy: The Beatles’ Abbey Road Studios – Alex Robinson recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Over the past few weeks Londoners and Beatles fans the world over have been up in arms about EMI���s possible plans to sell Abbey Road Studios, the legendary location where the Fab Four recorded many of their greatest albums. The studios are a prime piece of real estate near Madonna's old home and around the corner from Kate Moss in��ever-so-fashionable St John's Wood, and there were fears that they'd be snapped up and turned into swanky apartments. The rumors became a scandal that soon made the national news—on all channels. Concerned fans launched a huge Facebook campaign and Paul McCartney was rung up and interviewed repeatedly, expressing concern and proclaiming sadness.
  ��

  

  Photoshop Phun (Courtesy
  beneneuman/Flickr)

  On February 17th, the National Trust—which preserves many of the country's heritage buildings—announced that it was thinking of launching a campaign to save the studios. And two days later, Andrew Lloyd Webber said he was "very interested" in buying should EMI formally decide to sell.

• Child allowed to direct air traffic control at JFK – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Funny or scary? The FAA is investigating why the child of an air traffic controller was allowed to talk to pilots at JFK airport on February 17.

Bringing you what’s new in travel for March 2nd 2010

• When Is a Credit Card Holder Not a Cardholder? – Smarter Travel has posted some info about skymiles credit card: Kat's husband has a SkyMiles credit card, but Delta and American Express are denying him a standard cardholder benefit. Tim Winship reads the fine print.

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

• Yelp accused of extortion – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  A handful of business owners recently filed a class-action lawsuit against user-review site Yelp. The companies accuse the site of offering to remove negative reviews for advertising fees. In a statement, Yelp denied the allegations.

Bringing you what’s new in travel for March 1st 2010 through March 2nd 2010:

• From Twitter – RT @Jaunted 8 Major Things you should know about the next Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia http://bit.ly/dxuASE
• Paris on a Tight Budget – Smarter Travel has posted some info about travel question: The Deal Detective helps a reader see the City of Light on a tight budget. Plus, submit your own travel question for an upcoming case.

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

• Ask Trip Coach: Cooking classes – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  (Illustration by Chris Gash)

  If you want to truly get the flavor of a destination, why not learn the nitty-gritty of how the place creates its flavors?

• The best places to travel this month – AmyS_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:

  Welcome to March! Where would you like to go this month?

• Shop talk: Slip through airport security in patriotic flats – Valerie Rains recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  It's hard to beat a ballet flat when it comes to slipping through the airport security line with minimal shoelessness. A new collection from 91-year-old Spanish company Pretty Ballerinas, debuting this spring, underscores the globetrotting aesthetic. The "Around the World" line has nine styles, inspired by the flags of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S., and of course, Spain. (There's also a riff on the Union Jack that is part of the company's core collection.)

• Fly Out of Regional Airports to Save Money and Hassle [Airline Travel Tip] – Lifehacker's Jason Fitzpatrick just posted this article:
  

  When planning a flight most people focus on flying out of major airpots, hopping from one metropolitan area to another. Plotting a course that starts in a regional airport can lead to significant savings and less hassle. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• From Twitter – via @KAYAK 7 Tips for a More Fulfilling (and Frugal) Travel Experience http://bit.ly/9KYKEJ (@juliadimon) –jen

Bringing you what’s new in travel for February 28th 2010

• traveltonic: Swan boats at Lake Eola, Orlando, Florida – traveltonic: Swan boats at Lake Eola, Orlando, Florida
  
• Live Your Own Tall Fish Tale on Alaska’s Kenai River – Smarter Travel has posted some info about king salmon: Even if the King Salmon don't bite, there's still plenty of adventure in the hunt. Discover why about one fifth of the visitors to Alaska go fishing every summer.

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

Swan boats at Lake Eola, Orlando, Florida

Smarter Travel has posted some info about king salmon: Even if the King Salmon don't bite, there's still plenty of adventure in the hunt. Discover why about one fifth of the visitors to Alaska go fishing every summer.

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

Bringing you what’s new in travel for February 24th 2010 through February 27th 2010:

• Doctor, Doctor! Reader Remedies Put to the Test – Smarter Travel has posted some info about medical professional: When it comes to getting (or staying) healthy on the road, our readers offered remedies that were at times traditional, creative, and even a little unorthodox. We compiled your best advice, then asked a medical professional for feedback.

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

• Vacations for billionaires – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:

  T. Harv Eker, author of “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,” shares this affirmation in his motivational lectures: If you want to be rich, you need to admire the rich.

• It’s a prime time to visit Mexico, says this expert – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Genevieve Shaw Brown is Travelocity's Senior Editor and contributor to the Window Seat Blog. You can also find her on Twitter @gsbrown.

• Are passport prices about to get more expensive? – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  It's probably wise to buy or renew your passport soon: The price for either service may be going up by $35.

• Top Secret Hotels and Accessibility Search Options – Smarter Travel has posted some info about online travel agencies: Online travel agencies keep updating the ways you can search their sites. The latest? The ability to find hotels with a range of accessibility features and a "Top Secret Hotels" option.

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

• On the radar: A wry film from a Roman mama’s boy – Kate Appleton recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  Gianni, his mama (in yellow), and their guests sit down to lunch (Courtesy Zeitgeist Films)
• In Paris, and down at the farm – Meg Zimbeck recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  These beasts won points for "styling." (Meg Zimbeck)
• Trendspotting: A new family travel site delivers luxe for less – Nina Willdorf recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  I meet with PR folks all the time in my office, in town to share their news and happenings. Rarely do I get as unabashedly excited as I did yesterday, talking to the team behind LuxuryLink.com about their latest site: FamilyGetaway.com.

• Use LogMeIn and VNC Software for Remote Computing Power [Remote Acccess] – Lifehacker's Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  Netbooks and ultra-portable laptops may be convenient, but they don't always have the horsepower to get done what you need. Mobile-obsessed blogger James Kendrick suggests using LogMeIn (or maybe a free equivalent) to do the battery-draining stuff remotely. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• New Hidden Fee Coming Soon to a Restaurant Near You? – Smarter Travel has posted some info about restaurants in san francisco: A new charge found on bills at restaurants in San Francisco could spread to dining establishments near you. Find out what is it, how eateries get away with it, and what you can do about it.

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

• Make a Better Cup of Coffee in Your Hotel Room [Coffee] – Lifehacker's Lisa Hoover just posted this article:
  

  Many hotels have coffee makers right in the room, but dumping some grounds in and flipping the switch rarely makes a good cup of Joe. The Atlantic's Jerry Baldwin offers useful tips for improving the brew you make in your hotel room. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Airfare sale! Half off flights – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Direct Air, a lesser-known carrier based in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is celebrating its fourth birthday with a sale knocking 50 percent off all flights.

• The lifetime travel checklist – AmyS_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:

  Some places around the world are easily associated with one iconic activity or another. England has its afternoon tea rituals; Argentina, its sultry tango; and Hawaii, the sport of surfing, a gift from the islands’ first inhabitants.

Smarter Travel has posted some info about medical professional: When it comes to getting (or staying) healthy on the road, our readers offered remedies that were at times traditional, creative, and even a little unorthodox. We compiled your best advice, then asked a medical professional for feedback.

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

Smarter Travel has posted some info about ed perkins: Ed Perkins uncovers the subtle ways car rental companies add on fees and charges, and offers tips for avoiding these wallet-busting traps.

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

RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:

T. Harv Eker, author of “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,” shares this affirmation in his motivational lectures: If you want to be rich, you need to admire the rich.