It's that time of the year again, the time when the year just plain ends. Alas, we can't just let 2011 go that easily, especially since travelers spent it both up in the air and up in arms over a crazy range of topics, encompassing everything from nudie scans to tarmac delays. Needless to say, we're ready for 2012, but first we're taking a brief look back at the best of 2011 with the Jaunted Travel Awards,—or as we fondly refer to them—The Jauntys.

Do you think we're going to say "TSA" for this year's biggest travel villain? Truthfully, we were tempted but they won the title in 2010 and it's time to move on. For 2011, the single biggest villain keeping travelers from where they wanted to go were...natural disasters. ]]> Jaunted11 2011-12-29T16:26:27-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/12/185321/18

While much of the “red zone” in the city center of Christchurch remains empty of people (save for the demolition crews checking the abandoned buildings that still make up a large part of the area), we came across a little rehabilitation project right at the edge that’s bringing life and color back to the devastated city, Project Re:Start.

Project Re:Start is kind of like a pop-up mall made up of purpose-built, brightly colored shipping containers that have been arranged and stacked along Cashel Street and converted into shops and cafes. The project was financed with NZ$3.36 million from a the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal fund.]]> EricRosen 2011-12-13T16:25:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/8/23/141114/623

Ahhh Earthquake! Okay, it's something you only see in disaster movies—an earthquake hits New York City and civilization as we know it is thrown into a panic. Well not quite, but just under 20 minutes ago an earthquake did hit the east coast of the United States, centered in Mineral, VA and felt quite heartily in both Washington DC and New York City. There are reports that tremors were even as high as Rhode Island. Crazy!

The USGS has pegged this quake as a 5.9 magnitude just a 1/2 mile below the surface, which is enough to get to shaking, but not enough to knock over appliances or throw people off their feet. Reports continue to flood in now on news channels and via Twitter, but it has been confirmed that this was, in fact, a real-live Earthquake.

We still hear the subways and traffic are running as normal. Airports—Washingon-Dulles, Newark and Philadelphia—have had brief ground stops lifted while ground stops continue (for not too much longer) at New York-JFK and Washington DC-Reagan National. Amtrak is also effected, putting speed restrictions on its trains between Washington DC and Baltimore.

Now, the "where I was" stories pour in. We were sitting perfectly still, noticed some things were shaking that shouldn't be shaking, looked out the window to see electrical cables swaying, and finally the shaking increased so much as to rule out any thought of the many subway tracks that surround Jaunted's NYC HQ. And then we turned to Twitter and saw the truth.

Your turn! Where were you? How much did you feel it?]]> JetSetCD 2011-08-23T14:11:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/6/22/12528/1850

The TV cameras may be gone but that doesn't mean all is well in Japan. The country still needs support after the massive tsunami that hit in March and Inside Japan Tours has a way for you to help.

The tour company has created a 4-day volunteering tour to Tohoku where participants will work with RQ Citizens Disaster Relief Network Japan cleaning and restoring damaged houses and schools, shoveling rubble or clearing parks.

The package includes transportation from Tokyo, accommodations, meals, equipment and an English-speaking interpreter. Airfare is not included. Upcoming trips are scheduled to leave on July 7, July 21, August 4, and August 18. Packages start at $725. For more information visit InsideJapanTours.com.

[Photo: Tiryimyim.com]]]> cmb 2011-06-22T15:31:51-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/5/24/387/88214

Just when we thought we'd found one of the best travel deals for post-earthquake Tokyo, up pops an even sweeter bargain. This $780 airfare including four nights hotel deal found by Frommers is making us think of canceling already booked trips to hop across the Pacific to Japan.

How can it possibly be so cheap? As Frommer's states, "this is a desperation offer designed to shock the American travel industry into once again considering tourism to Japan." Also, it's only valid for June travel and from select departure cities for select hotels in Tokyo. The participating airlines are pretty solid choices, though: ANA, Japan Airlines and United/Continental. ]]> JetSetCD 2011-05-24T14:10:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/5/18/94331/4667

Sometimes an airfare deal so sweet comes along, that it's almost impossible to resist. And—if you think about the current under-$600 deals on Delta in terms of new shoes (4-ish pairs), iPads (1), or Starbucks coffees (100), it really doesn't seem so bad.

You heard us right—Delta has just dropped prices on their routes to Tokyo, to Haneda Airport in particular, which just happens to have a sparkling new international terminal waiting for you. Try searching any US city to airport code HND, and you'll find fares like $582 from San Francisco, $588 from New York or Chicago and $564 from Los Angeles. These prices are roundtrip, total including taxes, and some are direct and some include stopovers.

Now here's the really awesome part: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-05-18T13:13:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/5/4/125910/8622

This week, Fast Five's Paul Walker is headed to Alabama to help victims of the recent tornadoes, and you can help too.

Walker has traveled around the world helping those in need after natural disasters on behalf of the non-profit Reach Out Worldwide. Reach Out Worldwide, which is a network trained volunteers who act as first responders in the United States and abroad, is always looking for volunteers to help out on their next trip. ]]> cmb 2011-05-04T15:27:10-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/