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No Room at the Inn

March 27, 2006 at 3:34 PM | 0 Comments



Today's pick for a Dubious Destination relates to Bed and Breakfasts all across England. Christian B&B operators in the country are protesting the recent passage of a law in the UK called the Equality Act. The law stipulates that B&B operators cannot deny a room to visitors on the basis of religion or sexual orientation, and the B&B operators are not pleased. To wit:

"We've had a lot of correspondence from Christian B&B operators who don't want to be forced to accept Satanists, Muslims, gays and even unmarried couples as guests,' said a Home Office official. 'Protestants have been writing in saying they shouldn't have to admit Catholics because they have an issue with their religion, Catholics saying they didn't want Jews under their roof and objections from followers of other types of faith."

Now, doesn't Christianity have some history with this whole denied-a-place-to-stay thing? We're pretty sure that it's somewhere in the bible...

[Image via Ray./Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   B&B law sparks backlash [The Guardian]
·   Dubious Destinations [Jaunted]

Land of the Midnight Sun, Tourist Board

March 13, 2006 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

Each week, we choose a destination recently featured in a travel glossy or weekend section that smacks of poor judgement on the part of their editors. For whatever reason, it doesn't pass our smell test. We then nominate it as a dubious destination. Got a dubious destination to recommend? Send it to tipsATjauntedDOTcom



We've done with the "Iceland, land of mystery and nightclubs" articles. We're sure Iceland's amazing, with things like phone books by first name; Bjork; 24 hour golfing in the summer; and thermal geysers. We don't doubt the party capital aspect, especially if you're Damon Albarn of Blur, who is meant to be responsible for the high number of children named Damon in the country.

Do we really need to be  beaten over the head about it, year after year? We are certain that the authors enjoyed quality press trips to Reykjavik, but it's not somewhere that we can just swing by, even though it's on our list. As for any more articles about Iceland, we doubt they'll top Pico Iyer's take in Falling off the Map. Send every other writer to Greenland or something. Surely they can be more concise than A.A. Gill.

[Image via asmundur/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Going to: Reykjavik [NY Times]
·   Previous Dubious Destinations [Jaunted]

On a Cold and Grey Chicago 'Morning...

March 6, 2006 at 2:05 PM | 0 Comments

Each week, we choose a destination recently featured in a travel glossy or weekend section that smacks of poor judgement on the part of their editors. For whatever reason, it doesn't pass our smell test. We then nominate it as a dubious destination. Got a dubious destination to recommend? Send it to tipsATjauntedDOTcom




Ahh, there is no grander tradition among the wealthy than that of "slumming it'. But, as slums in more developed world become less slummy to cater to incoming hipsters, a dilemma emerges: Where to go for all of your slum tourism needs?

Happily, Brazil--a country that excels at catering to our darker urges--has come up with the answer, in the form of favela hotels in Rio de Janeiro's shantytowns. Located smack-dab in the middle of the city's rougher neighborhoods, this accommodation makes up in authenticity what it lacks in amenities. And safety.

Really, we have no problem with locals from that part of Brazil making money for themselves, but we question the motives of visitor who might want to stay there. It could very well be for the wrong reasons, like slumming, and if it's combined with a lack of common sense, the end result will not be a happy one.

Of course, we have no problem with those tourists getting mugged in the nicer parts of Rio.

[Image via jcfillizola/Flickr]    

Related Stories:
·   A Different View of Rio [The Guardian]
·   Previous Dubious Destinations [Jaunted]

Movin' Out

February 27, 2006 at 1:10 PM | 0 Comments

Each week, we choose a destination recently featured in a travel glossy or weekend section that smacks of poor judgement on the part of their editors. For whatever reason, it doesn't pass our smell test. We then nominate it as a dubious destination. Got a dubious destination to recommend? Send it to tipsATjauntedDOTcom


This week's dubious destination comes with fair warning from the author of the article--even he disliked being sent to The Body Holiday at LeSport in St. Lucia. It's one of those workout and fresh fruit extravaganzas, and it sounds miserable.

There's the exercise, which is fine, but not what we want to focus on during a vacation. There's also the terrifying threat, for anyone traveling alone, of the spa's policy of seating singletons together. Sweat and enforced socialization sounds more like summer camp to us. Aren't spas about having someone do all the difficult detoxifying for you?

Here's what we want when we travel somewhere tropical: drinks in coconuts with umbrellas, lounging interspersed with copious amounts of napping, and a tan. Don't make us burn any more calories than we have to.

[Image via Alexandrehuang/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   In Search of My Six-Pack [The Guardian]

Magical Elf of Hotel Design

February 20, 2006 at 12:05 PM | 0 Comments

Each week, we choose a destination recently featured in a travel glossy or weekend section that smacks of poor judgement on the part of their editors. For whatever reason, it doesn't pass our smell test. We then nominate it as a dubious destination. Got a dubious destination to recommend? Send it to tipsATjauntedDOTcom

This week's dubious destination is all about the little things. They can make a big difference, especially when it comes to picking a hotel.

Some hotels don't like to take a chance on those details. They like to hire someone to take care of them. And not just any hotel--The Hotel on Rivington does it.

The details are things like incidental reading material, the DVD library, and music on the stereo. But what kind of person could have such wide-ranging responsibilities? Why, the none other than the inimitable Nemo Librizzi.

Which is why we choose THOR as a dubious destination this week. We'll pass on staying in any hotel that hires someone named Nemo to oversee "esoteric minutiae" and whose title is "Superintendent of Luminous Detail". Know what we call a luminous detail? A lamp.

Perhaps that money would have been better spent on finishing construction on time.

[Image via sushicircus/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   The Magician of Rivington Street [NY Times]

Dubious Destination of the Week Inaugural

February 13, 2006 at 2:38 PM | 1 Comment



Look in the next few weeks for lots of new features here at Jaunted. We'll introduce them as they are, uh, introduced.

Our first new weekly feature is the Dubious Destination of the Week. Each week, we'll choose a destination featured in a travel glossy or weekend section recently that smacks of questionable judgment on the part of their editors. It's similar to the Philadelphia effect; it could be that it's the new hotness, but more likely is that it makes for good copy, regardless of how enjoyable it is as a tourist destination at the moment. As always, send your nominations to tips@jaunted.com.

Our inaugural choice is from the New York Times Travel section (we pick because we love) this week. Seriously, guys, Bogotá, Colombia? We'd be more trusting, but this little nugget from the article necessitated a spit take:

"Extortion-related kidnappings are becoming rarer across the nation, with the government reporting a 51 percent drop: 369 in 2005, down from 747 in 2004".

If kidnappings are now under 400 a year, it must be safe! We'd venture that being held hostage by masked gunmen is likely to replace dirty weekends in Ibiza any minute now.

[Image via dando pinos/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Bogotá Is Not Just For The Brave Anymore [New York Times]

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