Tag: Travel Snapshot

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This is What the Sequester Looks Like

April 25, 2013 at 10:41 AM | by | Comments (0)


Passengers crowd a gate desk with questions about connecting flights during a sequester-imposed delay

$85 billion in automatic federal spending cuts is bound to cause more than a few frowny faces, but though the furlough of federal workers began gradually in March, it's just these last couple weeks that've seen the cuts slash more than just the government workforce. With an estimated 10% of the US' air traffic controllers furloughed each day, airports can't handle the volume of flights they're used to and, thus, the flight delays and cancellations have begun.

We were stuck in one ourselves, luckily only a two-hour delay of a Delta mainline flight between two of the busiest airports in the country—Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Newark-Liberty. It's not the airline's fault in the least; the weather was excellent, the plane was at the gate ready to fly, and yet passengers sat in confusion as the delay was announced as "due to the federal sequester."

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Is This the Most Popular Ride at Legoland California?

April 18, 2013 at 5:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

The other week we hit up Legoland California, namely to check out the just-opened Legoland Hotel, the first Legoland Hotel in the U.S. But with the hotel being adjacent to the theme park, we of course had to roam around for a few hours, marveling at all things Lego.

We'll have one of our handy theme park survival guides for you next week but we just thought we'd share this observation: Out of all the attractions, rides and displays at Legoland, the busiest one we encountered was The Big Shop.

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This is the Actual Island on Which Tom Hanks Filmed 'Cast Away'

Where: Fiji
March 27, 2013 at 10:26 AM | by | Comments (0)

Last week, we dished on Air Pacific's brand new airplane, new look as Fiji Airways, and even mentioned how to test out the fresh bird. Just the thought of Fiji seems exotic, pretty far away, and difficult to get to. Exotic, yes. Far away, sure. Hard to get to, not at all. This week, we'll be looking at what there is to do once you do make it to the way out to the middle of paradise.

This photo is not your typical shot of a tropical South Pacific island. Nope—it was taken from onboard a zippy catamaran trip going from Nadi to Tokoriki, and that island in the distance may be a tropical South Pacific deserted island, but for a time it was the center of Hollywood's universe. It's practically a movie star.

Yep, you heard it right, that island is just as much a celebrity as, say, Tom Hanks. If you think it looks a little familiar that's because it's the actual island from the 2000 box office blockbuster movie, Cast Away.

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Wish You Were Here: The 333 Islands of Fiji

Where: Fiji
March 18, 2013 at 2:32 PM | by | Comments (0)

You guys, we're in Fiji! Yes, the islands in the South Pacific which are home to some of the happiest people on earth, according to a Gallup poll and the islands' official slogan ("where happiness finds you").

We've been here for a few days, and we're kinda getting into that overwhelming positivity despite our cynical city selves. Surrounded with lush tropical surrounds and warm weather, beautiful views and the sound of the ocean, you can't blame anyone for loving life and enjoying every second. We might be drinking Kool-aid Fiji water, but we think this place is pretty magical.

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Wish You Were Here: A Ferry Boat on the Bosphorus

February 21, 2013 at 8:44 PM | by | Comments (0)

New York has its Staten Island Ferry, Venice the Vaporetto and Bangkok the Chao Phraya River Bus, but no city ferry line seems quite as regal as that of Istanbul.

Last night, we hopped a Vapur (the name for these old ferries) for the first time, traveling from the docks at Eminönü near the Spice Market to about 25 minutes up the Bosphorus to Ortaköy, a neighborhood just before the towering Bosphorus Bridge. Though a private water taxi charges 120 Lira ($67 USD) for a one-way ride between these points, sharing the ferry means a far budget friendlier cost of only 3 Lira ($1.67) each way.

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JFK Airport Was a Little Empty Yesterday

February 9, 2013 at 10:40 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you were planning on flying to London yesterday, you're probably scrambling to figure out how to make that happen today as the Nor'easter storm blizzard struck New York City and closed the area airports for nearly 24 hours.

We were one of the lucky ones—one of those flights not marked with an angry orange "cancelled" on the departure board. And now here we sit in the 72-degree beauty of Hong Kong after Cathay Pacific flight 831 not only left JFK on time, but even managed to soar for 16 hours without turbulence.

The airports of the East Coast are returning to normal as airplanes return and salt trucks and plows work overtime, so here's hoping no one has to see a board with flight statuses like this again anytime soon.

[Photo: Jaunted]

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Travel Snapshot: What Not to Do in Monte Carlo

Where: Monaco
February 5, 2013 at 2:11 PM | by | Comments (2)

From time to time in our travels, we come across some cultural guidelines and civic rules that the locals take for granted. Just like our find on the subway in Singapore, we stumbled on this sign while strolling the streets of Monte Carlo.

If you have been lucky enough to visit the Principality of Monaco, you know that it is the center of all things glamorous and tax-dodgy. Tucked away between France and Italy, this country is built into a hill overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean and plays host to celebs and high-rollers who love to soak up the sun in close proximity to royalty. The main casino in Monte Carlo plays a central role in all the glam, surrounded as it is by manicured gardens, fountains and valeted Lamborghinis.

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What's the Deal with the Mummy Airplane at Seattle's Museum of Flight

January 15, 2013 at 4:16 PM | by | Comments (0)

This is the ghost of airplanes past. For real, though, this is a B-29 Bomber from World War II that's been literally kept under wraps for over a year, sitting between the parking lot of Seattle's Museum of Flight and the runways at Boeing Field.

Anyone who lives near a seasonal body of water (the Great Lakes, for example) has surely seen shrink-wrapped boats being transported or stored away for the winter. The same industrial wrap comes in handy for aircraft; just Google Image search "shrink-wrap airplane" to see shots like this, of bound-up Blackhawk helicopters on a barge.

But back to the Bomber.

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Wish You Were Here: Somewhere Off the Coast of Florida

December 3, 2012 at 2:09 PM | by | Comments (0)

Ahoy! If you're hanging out in Florida and are anywhere near the coast from Miami on up to West Palm Beach, break out a pair of binoculars to spot us. Just look for a white sliver on the horizon, that'll actually be the ginormous white Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Reflection. We promise to wave back.

There's no ultimate destination other than a return to Miami for the start of the Art Basel festival of contemporary art. You see, this is a preview cruise—the ship's maiden US voyage. It's a bit like an airport practice run, when terminals invite people to come simulate operations so, on opening day, the kinks have been well worked out. We would say we're "kicking the tires" of the Reflection but, well, it's a boat with a massive hull...and a multi-million modern art collection with 6,059 original pieces from the likes of Jeff Koons, Anish Kapoor, Christo, Marina Abramovic, Richard Prince and Robert Rauschenberg.

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Munich Airport Has a Message for You

Where: Munich, Germany
November 6, 2012 at 4:19 PM | by | Comments (0)

If, by chance, you followed along with our Twitter and Instagram last week during the drama of Hurricane Sandy, you'd know that we rode out the storm with a 3-day delay in Munich, Germany.

During this time we slowly fell deeper and deeper in love with the airport, Franz-Josef Strauss International (MUC). Not only did it have an awesome visitor park (which will get its own story soon), but the two terminals are gorgeous and more than happy to have you drink your fill of beer before departing. In fact, even the coaster napkins make a case for pre-flight boozing, as you can see from ours, pictured above.

Only in Munich!

[Photo: Jaunted]

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Wish the Sydney Harbour Bridge a Happy 80th Birthday

November 1, 2012 at 4:36 PM | by | Comments (0)

Today's travel snapshot comes to you from a land down under, where kangaroos roam and koalas are not exactly bears. The locals call it Oz and if you have ever been lucky enough to land in this "Lucky Country," you could understand why the nickname exists. Australia, the only country-continent on Earth is just about the size of America, so it has about the same amount of things to visit.

More specifically, we come to you from the nation's largest city, Sydney. The city plays host to iconic Aussie symbols such as the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Naturally there's much more to this city then just three things, such as fine dining, local designer boutique shopping and museums for all tastes.

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The Cutest Duty-Free Kiosk This Side of Asia

October 22, 2012 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

No, this airplane-shaped Duty Free kiosk isn't in Hong Kong airport or even Seoul-Incheon (though its adorableness would suggest that). We spotted it just yesterday at New York-JFK before heading out on Lufthansa flight 401, an A380 which would give even this tubby jet a run for its money.

We would dare you not to be tempted into buying something from it, but alas it's completely filled with cigarette cartons.

Sad face.

[Photo: Jaunted]

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