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Mmm, New Airport Smell at San Jose Airport's Terminal B

Not too long ago we had the chance to check out all the new stuff at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. We specifically investigated the ins and outs of the brand new Terminal B—thanks to getting to the airport way too early. Overall we thought the airport was pretty darn awesome, and a great alternative to flying out of SFO.

The best part of all is that it didn’t smell at all, although apparently the stank was coming from the remodeled Terminal A.

There are no moving walkways or other shortcuts to navigate the long expanses of Terminal B, which we didn’t really mind, but it seems like some just hate hoofing it along with bags in tow without a little help from modern technology. Everything is clean, sparkly, and brandy new—something we’d kind of expect for the airport of Silicon Valley and beyond.

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San Jose Throws Open the Doors on a New Tech-Packed Terminal

It looks like San Jose and the Silicon Valley will soon be stealing business away from SFO just up the road on the 101. The totally redone Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport opens to the traveling public this week, and the new place is definitely ready to show off its technology pedigree to both visitors and locals.

The place has a futuristic design that screams cutting-edge, but the real goodies are buried within the new Terminal B and the remodeled Terminal A. There are 200-foot-long skylights along the main concourse of Terminal B, and if you want to sit down and take in the view you’ll have plenty of juice thanks to electrical outlets easily accessible from each and every seat right in the armrests. The place cost around $1.3 billion so it’s pretty clear that they spared no expense.

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Do You Still Know The Way To Terminal A In San Jose?

We doubt that the renovations to the San Jose International Airport are what finally helped Microsoft and Yahoo come together in search engine marriage, but it can’t hurt that the face of Silicon Valley is getting a little nip and tuck. Those in hardhats have been busy renovating older parts of the airports and building some totally new facilities. All this in hopes of bringing the airport squarely into the 21st century.

The first six gates in the new Terminal B Concourse opened last month and Southwest was quick to claim them as their own. There’s still plenty of work to be done here, and the whole thing won’t be completed until 2010, but at least travelers will get a sneak peak into what’s to come.

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Britney Spears' Circus May Leave Town Sooner Than Planned

Only elephants work for peanuts: Britney Spears' long-awaited comeback tour likely won't get the worldwide extension promoters were looking for due to, you guessed it, the bad economy.

Spears set off March 3 from New Orleans on a 49-stop tour that included Canada and London, and producers were hoping the continual cloud of drama which separates Brit from the rest of us would part long enough to later add on dates in Europe and Asia and perhaps another round of shows in the U.S.

And despite rumors of a reunion with Kevin Federline and a summons to testify against one of her former hangers-on in a lawsuit brought by her dad, Spears was holding up her end of the deal. The girl just can't catch a break!

While promoters are mum on whether any of the existing shows will be canceled, it's always a possibility, so keep reading superlative sites like this one to keep abreast of the news. Ticketmaster is handling all the sales, but their cancellation policy is actually quite decent -- though you'll have to mail your would-be treasures back in in the event of a canceled show. The last time this happened to us, though, we got our refund in about three weeks.

Related Stories:
· Bad Economy May Fold Britney Spears' Circus Tent [People]
· The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour Information [BritneySpears.com]
· Cancelled/Postponed Events [Ticketmaster.com]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo from the Atlanta show: loveyousave]

Airport WiFi / Airport-WiFi-Map / SJO / → All Tags

Shake It Up in Costa Rica

If you happened to feel a little weak in the knees last week in Costa Rica, it wasn't your imagination: The peninsular nation just survived a 5.9 earthquake, although luckily there were no reported casualties this time (a slightly bigger January quake left 23 dead).

If you're flying into Juan Santamaría International Airport, the country's main airport in the city of San Jose, you can get online but be prepared for a little shakeup: You can't pay for service online with a credit card; instead, you need to buy a prepaid card to get ourself online. Ask for a tarjeta inalámbrica.

Got an airport WiFi tip for us? We'd love it.

Related Stories:
· Earthquake shakes Costa Rica; no major damage [AP via Google]
· Tourism Board Travel: Costa Rica [Jaunted]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]

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San Jose Airport Under Crazy Construction But Has Free WiFi

Mad thanks to a reader for reminding us that San Jose International Airport has free WiFi. We actually rolled through the airport last month and snapped this shot of the free WiFi advertisement. But in the holiday madness we forgot to add SJC to our Airport WiFi Map. But don't worry, now it's on there.

The airport actually began offering the free service back in May. Here's the official info on where at SJC to go online:

Free wireless Internet in San José now is available in all public areas of both Terminal A and Terminal C, with the exception of the Terminal A baggage claim area. As the airport completes its comprehensive construction program to replace and renovate its terminals, free Wi Fi also will be included in the new Terminal B and North Concourse when placed in service.

Ahh...about that construction. Work has been ongoing here for a long time. The airport is actually building a new terminal, worth around $1.8 billion which will serve Southwest. The construction was expected to be done next year (this was a plan that was introduced way back in 1997) but it looks like 2010 is the new opening date.

Related Stories:
· Free Wi-Fi Now Available At Mineta San José International Airport [SJC.org]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]

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Haunted Travel: The Real Haunted House

This time of year it seems everyone's running a haunted house. But what about visiting the real thing? For that, there's Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California.

The 160-room mansion was built in 1884 by a rich widow named Sarah Winchester. Unlike most of the homes constructed at the time, the Winchester Mystery House had modern heating and sewer systems, as well as three working elevators and 47 fireplaces. It also had a slew of paranormal activity after the death of Sarah's husband and daughter. Carpenters worked on the house for 38 continuous years because Sarah thought their noise would quiet the ghosts.

Although the Mystery House is open year round, only during the Halloween season can you take the hour-long flashlight tour. Travelers will experience the mysterious mansion by moonlight (and flashlight), which makes this already creepy place even spookier.

Related Stories:
· Winchester Mystery House [Official Site]
· Haunted Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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Tourist Trap: Winchester Mystery House

For those who like a bit of good old American weirdness with their tours, San Jose offers a stroll around the famed Winchester Mansion. A 160 room monument to nonstop renovations, the Winchester Mansion features endless arbitrary additions and staircases to nowhere.

The story goes that the widow of William W. Winchester, awash in money from her husband's namesake rifle, was spurred by a psychic to move west and build a sprawling domicile as a cure for a run of bad luck that included the deaths of her famous husband and their only child. This compulsive construction was an attempt to appease the souls of those who had died by means of the rifle that bore her husband's name. Ultimately, this appeasement resulted in thirty-eight years of round the clock construction and a one hundred and fifty six acre spread of idiosyncratic rooms and passageways.

The still-standing mansion and garden grounds offer a variety of daily tours. The best deal--short of faking senior status--is the Grand Estate tour at $28.95. This will take you through 110 of the 160 rooms and give you a behind the scenes look at the building and operation of the estate. If that's too rich for you, Weird US put together the video above.

Related Stories:
· The Winchester Mystery House Blogger Talks [Jaunted]
· The Winchester Mystery House [Official Site]

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Paula Abdul Joins the Bad Celebrity Flyers Club

Doesn't Paula Abdul know the first rule of Southwest Airlines is to study the "A,B,C" boarding game? Obviously not, because the kooky American Idol judge caused a stir as she made her way from San Jose to Burbank with SWA.

Perhaps she has a phobia of middle seats. Paula, who likely got banished to the "C" boarding group due to a last-minute airport arrival, reportedly demanded to board early, because she's "famous." While she didn't get to pre-board, she did push her way to the front of the line once "A" boarding commenced, promptly stealing a prime seat in the front. She even tried to claim the seat next to her, but eventually had to give it up because the flight was sold out.

Thankfully her fellow passengers had the sense to taunt her for the poor manners. One such flyer reportedly shouted, "You're no Sanjaya!"

[Photo: sheeshoo]

Related Stories:
· Paula Not So Sweet at 30,000 Feet [TMZ]
· Abdul tries diva trip [MSNBC via Dlisted]
· Federal Way, WA: Home of the Ponyhawk [Jaunted]

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Destination: El Jardín

If you're stuck in San Jose and looking for something remotely hip to do, head to El Jardin at the upscale Santana Row shopping mecca.

You'll sit outside underneath a large, leafy California oak lined with lanterns, sipping samples from their extensive 240-type tequila menu. Don't come here to fill up on cheap Mexican, because they only offer small bites to share (think flautas, tortas, and avocado-citrus salad) and they're not cheap, but stay to admire the live music and bar's entertaining people-watching and pick-up scene.

Every table's outdoors, so there's not a bad seat in the house, and some chairs come equipped with fleece throws that offer the perfect insulation on a chilly evening. They offer tequila tastings on Thursday and Fridays.

Related Stories:
· El Jardín [Official Site]

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Winchester Mystery House Blogger Talks

With the Halloween countdown begun, it seemed like a good time to talk a bit with Stephen, whose Mystery House blog is full of annotated pictures of the bizarre Winchester Mystery house, built by the spook-obsessed heir of the Winchester rifle fortune. Stephen took the photos while working as a guide a couple years ago -- many are of rooms and details you can't see on any normal tour.

Highlights from our IM chat are after the jump.

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