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 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/5/1387/01067

We've heard a lot about how DC is getting hip, but it's left us wondering why most Washington events we read about are still along the lines of Congressional cocktail parties and power-lunches. Just because they're Democratic now doesn't make them all that hip.

But DC has a lot more going on than just Obama-mania, so we're gonna start taking a look at Apolitical DC: the best ways to spend a weekend in Washington with minimal risk or stumbling into a heated late-night debate about the federal budget.

First up is the antithesis of the cigar-chomping, smoked-filled room, good ole boys clubs: hookah bars. Cigarettes at bars are long gone in DC, but these specialty purveyors still have an exemption. ]]> BS 2009-03-06T11:31:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/2/141325/2428

Starting this month, tourists in Rome will have to get their pizza-and-pasta fixes in before hitting the bar scene, as late-night snacking will be officially outlawed.

Authorities in the Eternal City are looking for ways to quiet the town's rowdy tourist-fueled bar scene. They already go against the European norm by closing most bars by 1 a.m., but apparently that isn't doing enough to stem the party tide, as revelers tend to just move the fun out into the streets, soaking up the alcohol at the city's omnipresent roving ice cream and snack trucks.

But not anymore—a new city ordinance that goes into effect this month orders all food vendors in the city—mobile stores and more traditional ones—to shut it down by 1 a.m. as well.

Hmm…no WiFi and no late-night eats. We're not feeling too happy with you, Rome!

Related Stories:
· No ice cream in Rome after 1 a.m. [WGY]
· Fleeting Internet Coverage In The Eternal City [Jaunted]
· Rome travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: hoteldephil] ]]> BS 2009-03-03T08:46:14-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/