• From Twitter – We’re now on Google+! About time I got around to that. http://t.co/tLBKBUL9
• Error – washingtonpost.com-
  washingtonpost.com
• Boeing disputes 737 Max development cost report-
  flightglobal.com
  Boeing disputes the cost estimates detailed in a recent Bernstein Research note claiming development of the 737 Max will be twice that of the Airbus A320neo,…
• Five Nights in Tokyo, from $1,399 With Air – posted this over on Frommer’s : This five-night Tokyo trip will save you more than $300 per person, leaving you plenty to spend on sushi, sake, and the latest fashion trends.
• Are Electric Car-Charging Stations the New Must-Have Hotel Amenity? – Valerie Rains recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  An EV Car Charging Station at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront. (Courtesy Marriott)
• Receive Free Nights with Australia Packages – Smarter Travelhas posted some info about australia vacation: If you’ve bothered to travel all the way Down Under, why not stay a little longer? Book select airfare-inclusive Australia vacation packages from Trafalgar and tack up to three extra nights on to your package for free.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• What airport is the ‘world’s worst?’ – HeidiS recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:Quick: What’s the worst airport you’ve ever encountered? It’s a tough question – these days there are so many bad airports to choose from. If you’ve traveled anywhere by air in the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly come across airports with crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded terminals, terrible weather, filthy floors, bad or nonexistent food, impossible-to-navigate layouts, baffling signage, and more.

  Bing Travel called attention to the worst of the worst in our slide show, World’s Worst Airports, but we’re not alone in our schadenfreude. Each year the website Sleepinginairports.net releases its candidates for the year’s worst terminals (read about the dubious “winner” from 2011), and Frommer’s has just released its list of candidates for World’s Worst Airport Terminals (read more here). Frequent travelers will recognize some of the usual suspects: Paris’ Charles de Gaulle always seems to make the top 10 list of worst airports, for good reason. JFK and LaGuardia each have their own special drawbacks, as does perennially congested LAX and Atlanta-Hartsfield.

  While statistics on airport delays and bad weather can help pinpoint some of the worst candidates, picking others is often a judgment call. So, fellow travelers, judge away! We want to know what airport would top your list for:

  1. Worst delays
  2. Worst weather
  3. Worst services / lack of services
  4. Dirtiest
  5. Most unfriendly
  6. Worst Layout / Navigation
  7. Ugliest
  8. Overall just plain bad

• Save 50% on Colorado Ski Packages – Smarter Travelhas posted some info about keystone ski resort: A weekend ski trip for less than $500? It does exist! Pay just $475 per couple for a two-night package at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• Free Flights to Crested Butte, Colorado – Smarter Travelhas posted some info about crested butte colorado: You can save more than $1,000 on your airfare to Colorado! Book a package to Crested Butte, Colorado, and Ski.com will throw in up to three extra plane tickets for free.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• Airfare Deals: Air France, Air Canada & Air New Zealand – posted this over on Frommer’s : Find low fares from Air France, get a promo code from Air Canada, and book now for Air New Zealand’s fare sale.
• TODAY Travel – Relax in the new yoga room at San Francisco airport-
  todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com
  - Harriet Baskas
  

  Courtesy of San Francisco International Airport
  San Francisco International Airport now has a yoga room where frazzled travelers can take a few moments to relax before or after a flight.
  By Harriet Baskas, msnbc.com contributor
  Stressed-out travelers willing and able to be flexible now have a new way to relax and refresh at San Francisco International Airport.
  On Thursday, the airport officially opens what it claims is the world’s first dedicated yoga room at an airport.
  “The room gives modern…  show all text
• British Houses & Gardens: 16 Sensational Sites – posted this over on Frommer’s : See fascinating palaces, homes, and gardens where landscape and interior design were pushed to new heights.
• Chinese New Year: A surprisingly Affordable Time to Visit Hong Kong – Nicholas DeRenzo recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  Hong Kong lights up at night. (Courtesy Globotours)
• Surprise Dance on Finnair Flight to celebrate India’s Republic Day-
  youtube.com
• Cruise Ship Dress Codes: What To Wear at Sea – posted this over on Frommer’s : Evening wear aboard ship is about the same wherever you go, but your destination definitely affects what you’ll need during the day.
• In the footsteps of Monty Halls in North Uist | VisitBritain Super Blog-
  visitbritainsuperblog.com
  - John Williams
  

  Some days the effect of the sun can be felt not only on the skin, it can actually seem to warm our hearts.  As I gazed at the turquoise hues of the sea lapping the deserted, white sandy beaches either side of the narrow headland, I had to make an effort to remember that I was on North Uist in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
  I was on the Udal Peninsula following a trail marked out by the British TV Celebrity, Monty Halls, for his booklet to raise funds for the Hebridean Rangers. Monty lived close to  show all text
• Stay at Marriott, Get a Free Flight – Smarter Travelhas posted some info about marriott hotels: It’s simple: Stay for a few nights and get a free flight! Book the Stay Here, Fly There package at participating Marriott hotels and receive a complimentary companion flight, plus free resort credit.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• Costa Concordia Sinking Leaves Other Cruise-Ship Passengers Alarmed — and Out of Luck | Frommers.com-
  frommers.com
  - <a href="http://www.frommers.com/community/persona.html?UID=826400">Christopher Elliott</a><br>Tribune Media Services
  

  Passengers who are nervous about sailing will find that most cruise lines aren’t issuing penalty-free refunds.
• Costa Concordia Sinking Leaves Other Cruise-Ship Passengers Alarmed — and Out of Luck – posted this over on Frommer’s : Passengers who are nervous about sailing will find that most cruise lines aren’t issuing penalty-free refunds.
• Where To Go For Snow – Michelle Baran recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  Jackson Hole on Jan. 24, 2012 (Courtesy Julie Weinberger/Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)
• Boeing expects no 787 rework on mid-60s line number-
  flightglobal.com
  Boeing will build a factory complete 787 that requires no post-assembly rework during mid-year, the company confirmed.Company CEO Jim McNerney said a…
• Great ethnic neighborhoods – HeidiS recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:Where can you get a taste of Tokyo — in Paris? Or take a ramble through Russia without leaving New York? Ethnic neighborhoods, places populated by immigrants and the children of immigrants, are in almost all major cities nowadays, allowing people of the majority culture to enjoy the riches of others.

  In the new Bing Travel slide show, Great Ethnic Neighborhoods, freelance writer Pauline Frommer strolls through 12 vibrant ethnic neighborhoods around the world, from a Danish village in California to a London neighborhood where you can pay for your pub meal in rupees.

  Got any tips on a great ethnic neighborhood you’ve encountered in your travels? Share it by leaving a comment below.

• Tony Hsieh’s new $350 million startup – Fortune Tech-
  tech.fortune.cnn.com
  - leighgallagher
  The Zappos CEO is trading shoes for urban planning — and spending big bucks to rebuild downtown Las Vegas.
  By Leigh Gallagher, assistant managing editorTony Hsieh
  FORTUNE — Tony Hsieh is well known for building Zappos into a billion-plus company, and perhaps even better known for building an unusually strong culture that encourages employees to have fun, embrace quirks and “create fun with a little weirdness.” He’s become a workplace evangelist of sorts: his 2010 book Delivering Happiness,…  show all text
• Cruise Deals for the Week of Jan. 26, 2011 – posted this over on Frommer’s : See the fjords of Norway, try out a transatlantic voyage, cruise in the Caribbean, and book more great cruise vacations that come with extra savings.
• Cracks found on A380 wing parts called ‘non-critical’ – USATODAY.com-
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways said this morning that they have discovered cracks on the wing ribs of some of their A380s, Reuters reports. …
• Busted for Bringing Cupcakes and Bagels Through TSA Checkpoints? – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Among the latest revelations from passenger confrontations with the TSA: You can’t bring a tub of cream cheese through a checkpoint. Spread it on bagels, though, and there’s no problem.
• PhotoBlog – 1,312 feet! World’s highest cable-stayed bridge built in Mexico-
  photoblog.msnbc.msn.com
  

  Alfredo Guerrero / Mexican Presidency via EPA
  The Baluarte bridge, built between Durango and Sinaloa states in Mexico, on Jan. 5, 2012.
  The world’s highest cable-stayed bridge has been constructed in Mexico. The Baluarte Bridge is 1,124 meters (3,687 feet) long and hangs at over 400 meters (1,312 feet) high, according to Reuters.
  The BBC reports that the Eiffel Tower would easily fit under its central span, and that the engineering feat has been recognised by officials from the Guinness World of  show all text

Travel News and Notes for January 6th 2012 through January 28th 2012

• Wireless Hotel Charges That Make You Want to Stay Home – posted this over on Frommer’s : Some hotels not only charge for Wi-Fi access in the rooms, but some properties will also charge for each device that logs on. In an age of iPhones, iPads, and laptops, is this trend just another way to rip off hotel guests?
  
• Boeing at a Crossroads: A Company’s DNA – Part One – FlightBlogger – Aviation News, Commentary and Analysis-
  flightglobal.com
  The first in a two part Paris Air Show news analysis exploring the strategic questions facing Boeing and its decision about the future of the 737. This analysis builds on the discussion of tactical decisions facing Boeing as it develops…
• Prepping for hurricane season – Michelle Baran recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:It seems a bit unfair that some of the most alluring beach destinations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico are tormented by the annual threat of hurricane season.
• Dr. Beach’s Top 5 Great Lakes Beaches – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog: 

  For the last 21 years, Stephen P. Leatherman (aka “Dr. Beach”) has helped kick off summer by releasing his annual list of Top 10 U.S. Beaches in the United States. This year, by popular demand, he is releasing a new kind of list: His recommendations for Top 5 Great Lakes beaches.

   

• Google Analytics & Webmaster Tools Now Track the Impact of Tweets, Likes and +1s-
  mashable.com
  - Ben Parr
  

  Google is getting more social, and its web analytics tools are no exception; Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools have added new tools for tracking the impact of tweets, likes, +1s & more on your website’s traffic.
  Google Webmaster Tools now has a “+1 Metrics” section, which provides reports on the impact of the +1 Button on search. The new analytics show how +1s affect your website’s clickthrough rate (CTR). It tracks the amount of +1s on a given page, the CTR with +1 annotations and the  show all text
• http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/business_aviation/index.jsp…-
  aviationweek.com
  Aviation, Defense and Space News, Jobs, Conferences by AVIATION WEEK the premier provider of aviation news, information, and data tools for the global aerospace and defense industry
• Apple plans to block iPhone users from recording concerts – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In…Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  If Apple gets its way, recording capabilities will be blocked on iPhones during concerts. (Courtesy jgoge/Flickr)

Today in Travel News for June 30th 2011

• 3 ways to save on car rentals this summer – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:If you can hit the road soon, rental rates start for as little as $1 a day.
• Google -
  google.com
  Search the world’s information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

   
• Hotels: When a best online price guarantee isn’t best – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  Is this hotel $200 or $150? Depends on where you book it. (Courtesy Fr Antunes/Flickr)
• Cruise Makeover: Royal Caribbean Takes Ship Renovation to the Next Level – posted this over on Frommer’s : Find out how ship builders are renovating Royal Caribbean’s decade-old Radiance of the Seas with new cabins, restaurants, and other examples of clever redesign.
  
• 8 ways to save on hotel rooms – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  Hotel room savings are within reach. (Courtesy kevindooley/Flickr)
• Quixey Finds the Perfect Software for Your Needs, Is the Best App Finder Around – Lifehacker’s Whitson Gordon just posted this article:
  

  
  
  

   

  There are a lot of great places to discover software these days, but if you’re looking for an app that does something specific, look no further than Quixey. It’s surprisingly good search engine will dig out every app that could possibly fit your needs. More »
  
  
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Daily App Deals: Get Trillian on Your Phone for Free, Previously $5 – Lifehacker’s Shane Watson just posted this article:
  

  
  
  

   

  New to Lifehacker, Daily App Deals is a not-quite-quotidian compendium of noteworthy app price drops and discounts. More »
  
  
  …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

Travel News for June 8th 2011 through June 9th 2011

• New: Buying a package for an unknown destination – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Sometimes it feels that wherever you go, you know everything about the place before you arrive. Your guidebooks and copy of Budget Travel have clued you in to the top attractions. TripAdvisor told you what to think of your hotel. Google Earth gave you an advance peek at the streets.
• Where should the royal newlyweds visit in California? – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  The kiss (Courtesy americanistadechiapas/Flickr)
• CORRECTION: Embraer eyes possible “five-abreast aircraft” -
  flightglobal.com
  (Corrects story to say that Embraer is eyeing possible development of a “five-a…  show all text

   
• Riding the train in Europe just got a little easier – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:It seems like there are apps aplenty for air travelers no matter where in the world you are, but railroad riders in Europe have had to figure out things the old fashioned way���until now.
• Airline ticket refunds up after bin Laden death, firm says – USA… -
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Refunds for airline tickets sold by U.S. travel agents, including online travel…  show all text

   

Travel News for May 6th 2011 through May 7th 2011

• San Francisco: 5 great walking tours – Justine Sharrock recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:San Francisco is a walker’s city. So think like a local and try a walking tour when you’re in town, instead of taking a stereotypical bus tour. Walking tours are an excellent way to get an insider perspective of the city, whether you’re interested in must-see landmarks or more uncommon sites. In our opinion, the five listed here are well worth the money.
• The Best Tools for Hacking Your Next Big Conference (Like SXSW) [Travel] – Lifehacker’s Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  At last year’s South by Southwest Interactive festival, I experienced shoulder burns, a perpetually dead laptop, frantic text messages, and very little sleep. This year, I’m planning on taking Lifehacker’s own advice on travel tools and actually enjoying myself. Here’s how. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• More Ways to Find Cheap Hotel Accommodations – Smarter Travel has posted some info about ed perkins: For a short time, Priceline is posting recent successful bid prices for hotels, while Quikbook has added an “opaque” booking feature. So, how do you find good deals? Ed Perkins explains.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• 10 airports that reduce the hassle of flying – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:Juggle your boarding pass and driver’s license, remove your shoes, belt and jacket, place your cell phone, electronic reading device and 3-ounce bottle of shampoo in the plastic bin and toss your purse onto the conveyor belt. Go through security, then gather up the bits before your pants fall down and someone runs off with your wallet.
• Biking directions added to Google Maps – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Today, Google added bicycle directions to its online maps for 150 cities nationwide. Says the Official Google Blog:
• Private Sale Sites Give Consumers More Travel Deal Options – Smarter Travel has posted some info about ed perkins: Private sale websites evoke experiences more than products, stock up with limited-time offers, and project the image of a gated community. But are the deals for real? Ed Perkins takes a close look.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• From Twitter – via @HotelChatter Why is it so hard for hotels to protect your credit card info? Wyndham is the latest hacking victim (from @BudTravel) http://bit.ly/dhO8IL
• Travelers’s credit card data stolen from Wyndham Hotels – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Travelers who booked rooms at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts late last year may have had their credit card information stolen by thieves.
• From Twitter – via @LATimestravel Last-minute SpaFinder Deal Days – $50 massages, facials and more Do you have any free time this weekend? We dare… http://bit.ly/9DPFhm

Travel News for March 9th 2010 through March 11th 2010

• New site PackLate lets you rent a place after all – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Have you ever been tempted to take advantage of the vacation-rental clearance—booking a beach home or mountain condo mere weeks before check-in?
• Google Map Buddy Generates High Resolution, Full Size Area Maps – Lifehacker’s Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  Want a wall-sized satellite view of your neighborhood? A full-page street map of the town you’re visiting? Google Map Buddy, a free, portable map maker, grabs data from Google Maps and arranges it exactly how you want it. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Allerglobal Generates Allergy Travel Cards in Multiple Languages – Lifehacker’s Jason Fitzpatrick just posted this article:
  

  Having food allergies can be a big enough hassle in your native country, let alone when traveling where you don’t speak the language very well. Allerglobal helps you make language-specific food allergy cards to communicate in restaurants. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Have a (scientifically) happier vacation – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy pasotraspaso/Flickr)
• Couches in Coach: What Air New Zealand’s Gamble Means for You – Smarter Travel has posted some info about coach class: The coach-class upgrade could signal big changes industry-wide. Plus, updates on oversize passenger charges and why to avoid JFK this summer.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• Family travel: “Stop telling us to pack light!” – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:An interesting discussion broke out in the comments on our recent post about whether shipping your bags to your destination is smart.
• San Francisco: Night at the museum – Justine Sharrock recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  The California Academy of Sciences (Courtesy Cheryl Lemanski/myBudgetTravel)
• 17 great destinations for chocolate lovers – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:Thank goodness for the equator. Its humid climate, regular rainfall and good soil are the perfect recipe for growing theobroma cacao, also known as the cacao tree. Its fruit is the precursor to Toblerone bars, Baci chocolate kisses, Lindt truffles, Hershey’s chocolate bars, Cadbury Crème eggs, Fran’s salted caramels, Ghirardelli squares and all other manifestations of chocolate goodness that are found in abundance this Valentine’s month.

Travel News for February 3rd 2010 through February 4th 2010

• Small Cruises Offer a Unique Vacation Experience – Smarter Travel has posted some info about cruise ships: With fewer passengers and the ability to take travelers to places large ships can’t get near, smaller cruise ships offer a more intimate experience. So what’s the downside?Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• TSA ‘humor’: Where’d you get this baggie of white powder, miss? – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Everybody knows that at TSA checkpoints, you’re not supposed to joke about drugs, bombs, or pretty much anything, right? Well, everybody except for one schmuck TSA agent, that is.
• New York: Secrets and savings in Central Park – Danielle Lipp recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy lumina59/myBudgetTravel)
• London: A new center at the Natural History Museum – Alex Robinson recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:The city’s spanking new, chrysalis-like, bug-shaped museum is offering canapés and concerts amongst the Madagascan hissing cockroaches.
• Whose Hotel Reviews Do You Trust? – Smarter Travel has posted some info about ed perkins: With so many hotel reviews out there, it’s hard to figure out what reviews you can trust. Ed Perkins explains the difference between professional and ordinary traveler reviews.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• San Francisco: Google maps famous, favorite places – Justine Sharrock recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Quick quiz: What is the favorite place of slow-food diva Alice Waters? It���s Zuni Cafe, her “home away from home.” At least, that���s what Google Map���s Favorite Places told us.
• Airline Fees Chart Highlights Charges for Checked Bags, Meals, and Other Airline Amenities – Lifehacker’s Adam Pash just posted this article:
  

  Even if you secure an inexpensive plane ticket these days, you’ve still got plenty of pricey checked-bag and other a la carte fees to worry about. Travel site Orbitz offers a comprehensive chart rounding up these fees for 25+ airlines. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• From Twitter – RT @FlightSource Transport Canada Announces New Carry-on Baggage Limits http://tinyurl.com/yhftyal
• Pack a gun to protect your valuables? – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Many travelers fear that someone will rifle through their checked luggage and steal their valuable items. When we’ve blogged about this topic before, we’ve received hundreds of worried comments.
• Rome: A new exhibit celebrates Caravaggio – Katie Parla recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Four hundred years after the artist’s death, the much-anticipated Caravaggio exhibit will open at the Scuderie del Quirinale on February 20. Michelangelo da Merisi, dubbed Caravaggio, painted canvases for cardinals, popes, and nobles in the late 16th and early 17th centuries—when he wasn’t getting into brawls or fleeing from one Italian city to the next.
• Weekends from $31.99/night – Extended Stay Hotels – I found this article over on Road Warrior: Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 1/22 through 1/24) and next weekend (stays 1/29 through 1/31) 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

Travel News for January 20th 2010 through January 21st 2010

• Internet Survival Guide for Traveling Where Privacy Isn’t Respected – Lifehacker’s Anonymous just posted this article:
  

  Ed. note: On Tuesday, Google responded to cyber attacks aimed at Chinese human-rights activists by ending search-result censorship in China. An anonymous reader with experience living where privacy isn’t respected writes in with tips for keeping your data safe in these situations. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Mikey, age 8, is on TSA watch list – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:Mickey Hicks is an 8-year old American boy who has been on the TSA’s “selectee list” for the past seven years.

Today in Travel News for January 14th 2010

• San Francisco: Pier 39′s sea lions say bye-bye – JD Rinne recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:If you’ve been to San Francisco’s popular Pier 39, along Fisherman’s Wharf, in the past, you’ve probably stopped to gawk at the famous (and numerous) sea lions that congregate there. But as Wired magazine reports, the sea lions have vamoosed.
• New Year’s around the world – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? The sparkle-and-pop quotient all depends on your geographic location.
• Google City Tours Adds Walking Directions, Custom Maps – Lifehacker’s Kevin Purdy just posted this article:
  

  Six months after launching City Tours in Labs, Google’s Maps team has tweaked the interface and made it more friendly to how people actually vacation: head to a city, pick places to go, and get precise directions to them. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

Today in Travel News for December 30th 2009

• RoomAtlas Puts Hotel Searches on a Google Map, Is Awesome – Lifehacker’s Sarah Rae Trover just posted this article:
  

  Many sites that help you find a hotel can be a little frustrating to use. They’re either pumped full of ads or jumble results according to advertisers. RoomAtlas does away with all that, providing a simplified but impressive Google Maps-powered hotel search. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• Paris Treat #24: Tarte tatin – Meg Zimbeck recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:It’s especially difficult now to find treats in Paris because of the weakened buying power of the dollar in France.
• Top Five Christmas Deals – Smarter Travel has posted some info about vacations destinations: Get away for the holidays with these Scrooge-proof vacations! Destinations include Las Vegas, Madrid, Puerto Vallarta, and London, among others.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.
• Paris: Museums on strike? – Sean O’Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek’s Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy Meg Zimbeck)
• Avoid Airline Charges by Checking Luggage Limits Before You Travel – Lifehacker’s Jason Fitzpatrick just posted this article:
  

  Nobody wants to get hit with a massive over-limit luggage charge when they’re already stressed and rushing to catch their flight. Hit up Luggage Limits before you travel to avoid any check-in counter surprises. …

  Read the rest at Lifehacker

• 26 affordable Caribbean hotels – RobinD_travel recently posted this over on the Bing Travel Blog:Close your eyes. Coconuts tumble down and thump the beach. Steel drums reverberate through an outdoor restaurant.  Trade winds whistle, and a sailboat’s rigging clangs gently against the mast. Suddenly, cha-CHING! You are handed the bill at your charming and luxurious resort and – poof – the spell is broken.
• Bundle Up to Fill Your Belly: Winter Restaurant Weeks are Back in North America – Carrie Havranek posted this over on Frommer’s : It’s that time of year again — or at least one of those two times of year. The post-holidays dining bargains get you out of the house in the dead of winter, with the special menus, special prices, and special benefits to hunger-related charities.
• A Potentially Dreary Future for Frequent Flyers – Smarter Travel has posted some info about : New three- and four-tier award schedules may make it easier to get seats for a reasonable number of miles, but Ed Perkins remains skeptical. Here’s why.Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

Travel News for November 25th 2009 through December 1st 2009