Hip Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is suddenly promoting their Hop-On Hop-Off bus service, although this government-sponsored scheme actually launched more than a year ago. The tourist bus works a circuit past 40 major sightseeing spots and shopping malls, and on one RM38 ticket ($12) you can use it for 24 hours, while RM65 ($20) gets you 48 hours.
Sometimes these buses are a good value; sometimes you'd do a lot better just taking cheap public transport around a city. The jury's still out on the KL version, though something caught our eye on the website that we haven't been able to verify yet: They mention having WiFi on board their buses.
If it's free and fast, then we're all for the KL Hop-On Hop-Off, except that we might do more hopping on than off to catch up on all our emails while we see the sights.
The airport internet provider we love to hate, Boingo, is giving away WiFi this holiday weekend. You'll only get 24 hours of free access before you have to pay, but hey, free stuff!
You'll have to download a program called GoBoingo from the company's website to get online, but it's not much of a hassle. After your free session is over, you can use the same program to reconnect to any Boingo-managed hotspot for $8 a day.
Given how prevalent those are in bigger airports, this could certainly come in handy over the long holiday weekend.
Megabus is riding high with new double-decker coaches and lots of new passengers thanks to $4-a-gallon gas. But is service on the super cheap bus up to snuff? Sort of!
One recent Megabus rider wasn't looking forward to her trip. Said an Ohio University student:
No one wants to take the bus, but driving and flying are so expensive.
Why wouldn't anyone want to roll Megabus style? Probably because of what another rider experienced:
The scene on 31st Street was TOTAL CHAOS. People lined up on the sidewalk for different destinations. We left about half an hour late, but smooth sailing the rest of the way, and I sat up front with no one next to me. The bus driver had NEVER driven to Boston before, so I had to help him out.
Before our recent Superfly flight, we had the opportunity to spend some time in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO. We were greeted by a woman who looked like a missing character from an "Austin Powers" movie. She was older, just a hair over five feet tall with big red hair, even bigger glasses and a vague English accent. She said things like "Welcome love, great to have you here!" Good start...
Philadelphia isn't one of those towns that's overflowing with quirky coffee shops, but it's worth a ride out on the SEPTA train to hit up Milkboy Coffee, an always-happening cafe in the Mainline suburb of Ardmore.
Set between Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore, the spacious venue is always buzzing with studious types--probably thanks to the free WiFi and 10 percent student discount. Evenings are a little more lively, offering live music, indie movie premiers, art openings, book readings and DJ nights. The drinks menu is limited to java, but like many of Philly's finer venues, you can bring your own booze.
There's also a smaller offshoot of Milkboy about two miles up the Mainline in Bryn Mawr; it features live acoustic performances. Both locations serve breakfast and a menu of sandwiches and grill items.
Super-cheap coach line Megabus may not be as slick as BoltBus, but the company's about to introduce something pretty cool.
Megabus says they'll be the first outfit to offer double-decker rides between Boston and New York; the service is scheduled to start sometime in the next four months. As it turns out, folks in the Midwest have already tried the two-teired coaches. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter gave one a go in late May:
Except for a few bug splatters, my front row seat on the upper level of the double-decker Megabus gave me a sweeping view of the Missouri countryside. The guy sitting across from me, Dick Williams, agreed: "You get the panoramic view--it's the best seat in a thunderstorm."
This quirky North Boston cafe is about as far from a corporate coffee shop as you can get.
Owner L'angelo--who goes by one name--named his place after his two favorite dances, and that should give you a hint to Flamepoeira's artsy sensibilities. The sandwiches are all named for famous artists: You can go for the classic Da Vinci or the eclectic Dali, but you'll get more props from the staff if you venture for the avant-garde Warhol or the screaming hot Munch.
The espresso is strong and the WiFi is free, but this isn't the place to put on the earphones and dive into work. The lounge-y open room inspires conversation, and the cafe draws a crowd of artists and activists who are quick to slide in next to you and talk your ear off about the eclectic artwork on the walls, Barack Obama's election chances or the virtues of fair-trade coffee.
We were a little underwhelmed when JetBlue unveiled its in-flight WiFi last December. Available on a single aircraft, the service only let you check email via Yahoo Mail or BlackBerry or chat with friends via Yahoo Messenger. Hardly a killer app.
But starting today, you'll be able to check your accounts at Gmail, AOL, Hotmail and Windows Live Mail, too. If your office uses Microsoft Exchange, you'll also be able to check in with the boss. And JetBlue has also partnered with Amazon.com, in case your online shopping can't wait until you've landed.
You still won't be able to fully surf the web, but at least the service will still be free. When American Airlines finally gets its WiFi flying, you'll be paying at least $10 per segment to connect.
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by amandak
