We know there’s plenty of people saving—or even hoarding—those frequent flyer miles in hopes of the next great redemption or value. Now just might be the best time to cash some in, as United Airlines is running a decent sale on redeeming MileagePlus miles for an award ticket.

The airline is offering up to a 25% discount on "free" flights—plus taxes and fees of course—to most destinations in Europe as well as Central and Southern Africa. The biggest savings are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as you’ll only get a 20% discount during other days of the week. There’s probably all kinds of permutations and calculations involved with your dream ticket, but a basic 60,000 mile coach ticket to Europe from the United States can now be had for as little as 45,000 miles round-trip. ]]> kjb 2012-01-09T09:50:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/15/62414/234

When we least heard from Sir Stelios there was news about a potential new low-cost carrier that would focus on more long-haul routes. We guess the potential for cheap flights between London and New York is still there, but now it sounds like his low-cost model is shifting to a different continent altogether.

The founder of easyJet is thinking that the next great success in the airline industry will take place in Africa. He’s already working to get funding in place, and there are some deals being done between his group and Rubicon Diversified Investments in hopes of creating a new low-frills, low-cost airline. The placeholder name—FastJet—is now apparently the working name of the new air venture. ]]> kjb 2011-12-15T08:32:51-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/9/28/114710/736

Machine Gun Preacher, which is currently in theaters, stars Gerard Butler as Sam Childers, a man who turned his life around and helped build an orphanage in Nimule, South Sudan.

13 years later, Sam's orphanage is going strong with more than 200 children calling it home, but there is still work to be done considering most people in the region don't have access to clean water, food, or medicine. ]]> cmb 2011-09-28T11:47:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/11/73648/6729
The current Google Map doesn't show the new South Sudan

Close your atlases and history textbooks. They're out of date. Close your browser too, because it looks like the Google Maps team doesn't work on the weekends. Despite all the news reports of the physical alteration to the world that occurred this weekend when South Sudan became it's own country, the official Google Map has yet to recognize it. Even President Barack Obama took some time from his Saturday morning to formally acknowledge the Republic of South Sudan.

It's not like South Sudan is a minor nation, either. It's got a capital (Juba), a flag (see below), a hefty population (some 8.2 million), and fifty years filled with two civil wars that brought it to this point. It's even planning its own currency: the South Sudanese Pound. Bet you can't guess South Sudan's official language...it's English!]]> JetSetCD 2011-07-11T09:18:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/14/12282/9077

Kristin Cavallari recently traded in The Hills for Kenya. The reality star was on a charity trip with her boyfriend, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Culter, on behalf of of her charity One Kid World.

The couple handed out school supplies and helped rebuild two schools while also connecting the kids in Africa with students in the U.S. via a pen pal program. Not surprisingly, they worked in plenty of photo opps with the kids too.

Kristin isn't alone in her philanthropic ventures. Jay also has his own foundation which is hosting a charity event in his hometown of Santa Claus, IN on May 14th. Tickets, which start at $100, which includes dinner, drinks, a performance by David Nail and of course an opportunity to meet Jay and Kristin. For details visit http://jaycutlerfoundation.eventbrite.com/.

Related Stories:
· Kristin Cavallari takes a charitable trip to Kenya[DailyMail]
· Celeb Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: DailyMail] ]]> cmb 2011-04-14T14:53:54-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/11/17/12551/339

Even though most voluntourists have good intentions, a recent study suggests, in some cases, they may be doing more harm than good. The Human Sciences Research Council looked specifically at students who spend a gap year (the year between college and the "real world") working with orphans in South Africa. Linda Richter advises, "Many of the children they [volunteers] leave behind experience another abandonment to the detriment of their short- and long-term emotional and social development."

What the study doesn't address is that there several other extended voluntourism opportunities in Africa for those who want to help out, without having to work with kids. Like working with chimpanzees!]]> cmb 2010-11-17T15:31:59-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/11/16/952/65066

The best way to start a day is with news of a royal engagement! This morning (or evening, in Britain), it was formally announced that England's Prince William has proposed to long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton, who accepted. The pair have been dating for eight years ever since meeting at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They are due to be married in the spring or summer of 2011, with a wedding no doubt conducted at Saint Paul's Cathedral in London [or Westminster Abbey or Windsor Castle].

With all the excitement over the engagement, you can bet that both St. Andrew's in Scotland and Saint Paul's in London will become even bigger tourist hotspots than they usually are, but there's one area no one's thought of yet: the place where Prince William actually popped the question to Kate. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-11-16T09:10:47-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/