There’s nothing Dubai wants more than to succeed as a global vacation destination, and that’s especially true when it comes to luring western visitors out into the desert sun. Unfortunately every now and again there are reports of some extreme behavior when it comes to punishment for those that don’t live up to all the rules and standards within the Emirate.

The latest news involves a man getting sent to the slammer for doing something that several passengers probably do each day in especially aggravating airports like JFK and O’Hare. Apparently a British gentleman decided to flip the bird to an airport worker, after the airline employee refused to let him use some kind of customer service telephone. ]]> kjb 2010-11-15T08:40:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/4/27/73830/7358

The complaining has paid off, and this week air travelers are finally getting something to save them from those dreaded tarmac delays. Things become official this Thursday, and here’s just some of the new rules you need to be familiar with before your next flight:

· Three Hours And You’re Out
Your flight needs to get up in the air in less than three hours. If delays cause you and your flight to sit on the ground for more than three hours, the airline has to let you back into the terminal or else there will be a pretty hefty fine. The punishments can run as high as $27,500 for each passenger onboard, but unfortunately the fine goes to the government and not the passengers.

More rules and regulations after the break... ]]> kjb 2010-04-27T09:40:28-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/15/212128/502

We like to cover a lot of television travel here and with the exception of Lost, all of the episodes we watch have been fascinating, entertaining, amazing and exciting with maybe a few gross-out moments here and there. (Bizarre Foods, anyone?) But most importantly, these shows usually have us saying at the end of the episode, "I want to go there."

Then there's the National Geographic Channel's Locked Up Abroad, a show about travelers who were either kidnapped or sent to prisons while traveling abroad. Watching this is like watching "Scared Straight", the documentary about prisons that high school teachers show their students to deter them from criminal behavior. "Locked Up Abroad" has left us with severe paranoia about getting thrown into a jail in a country where we don't speak the language.

If you have any travel lust coursing through your veins right now, this show will shut it down immediately.

]]> juliana 2009-04-16T10:11:39-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/8/9712/83644

Sweet ride! Johnny Depp gets carted around in style on the Puerto Rico set of "The Rum Diary," in which he stars as a young newspaper reporter. That's costar Aaron Eckhart in the car with him.

Neither Depp nor Eckhart would need an International Driving Permit to take the wheel of that sweet convertible -- a US driver's license would suffice. But if they wanted to island-hop to, say, Antigua or Jamaica after shooting, an IDP would come in handy. Even if a local car rental in one of the 155 countries that accept it doesn't ask for it, it can't hurt to be covered for the price of $15 and 2 passport photos in places where an American driver's license isn't accepted.

Besides, this may be the last year it's that easy to drive around the world: The IDP was set up back in 1949 by the UN, which is expected to revisit the regulations at a road safety conference in November. (Host country Russia also accepts the IDP, but take it from us: don't drive there.)

Related Stories:
· Application for International Driving Permit [AAA.com]
· Victoria Beckham Parties At That Hot LA Club DMV [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]]]> egw 2009-04-08T09:56:34-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/27/125833/277

Heading to Minneapolis anytime soon? Leave your Axe body spray at home; it's not like the flight attendants have fallen into your lap yet, anyways. You see, Minnesota isn't too happy that Axe's hyper-sexual advertising campaigns have been working so well, causing kids to drench themselves in the potent scents and offend sensitive nostrils.

Apparently the overuse of Axe is so widespread in the City of Minneapolis School District, that they've called for a ban on the stuff.

You'd think that with all this hubbub, flying into Minneapolis airspace would involve descending through a fog layer of aerosol Axe spray, but instead it's simply a case of teachers trying to encourage teenage boys to shower more often. Says StyleList: "One concern prompting suburbia to sound the alarms is the idea that Axe Body Spray is somehow enabling teens to adopt poor hygiene habits."]]> JetSetCD 2009-03-27T13:53:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/18/81843/9634

Choose your wardrobe carefully when packing for your next vacation in Dubai: things are getting a bit stricter.

We've accepted now that sex on the beach obviously offends local sensibilities and plan to refrain, but the stricter rules just announced for places like Dubai's mega shopping malls might not be so easy to follow. For a start, all fashion statements have to go out the window, and:

pants and skirts are to be of an appropriate length and clothing cannot be tight or transparent.

Kind of ironic for a shopping mall. On top of that, there is to be no kissing between men and women, and unless you're married, no holding hands either. Inappropriate behavior could lead to a prison sentences, authorities say. Having your vacation short just for holding hands with your boyfriend would make for a pretty sad travel story.

Related Stories:
· Dubai Bans Nudity, Dancing and Holding Hands [The Age]
· In Dubai, Sex on the Beach Could Lead to Prison [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sklathill] ]]> amandak 2009-03-18T10:56:23-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/11/73124/9542

Ever since Senator Obama became President Obama, travelers in the US have been wondering when the doors to Cuba would open. A couple weeks ago there was some talk about the country easing rules on travel to Cuba, and yesterday, we got one step closer. Congress signed a spending bill that the President is expected to sign today, that among other things, will allow easier family travel to Cuba. ]]> kjb 2009-03-11T13:46:19-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/