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The First Class Lounge at Turkish Air is Rather Palatial

February 11, 2009 at 9:21 AM | 1 Comment

We don't want to wish any serious airport stranding on ourselves, but if and when, then couldn't it be somewhere as bizarre as this, the executive lounge of Turkish Air at Istanbul's Ataturk airport?

We're pretty impressed that some people felt relaxed enough here in this über-decadent airline lounge to not just put their feet on the seats, but actually stretch out--we would be hearing our mother's voice in our ear telling us to behave.

We can't put it better than the photographer who described this place as having a "your flight has been delayed so now you're stranded at Dolmabache Palace" feel to it.

What we can't figure out is why our delays are always at airports where we can't access any decent lounge and end up sleeping on plastic benches at fast food franchises instead. Can anyone tell us which god we have to pray to?

Related Stories:
· Security Guards in Qatar's First Class Lounge Won't Allow Any Pictures [Jaunted]
· Turkey Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong?]

Security Guards in Qatar's First Class Lounge Won't Allow Any Pictures

January 21, 2009 at 11:31 AM | 2 Comments

How's this for your ultimate airport lounge? It's the first class lounge belonging to Qatar Airways at their main hub in Doha and it looks decadent enough for us to think that Qatar Airways might be charging too much for their plane tickets.

Flickr fanatic Stuck in Customs went to a fair bit of trouble to bring us this great travel snapshot:

I was warned many times by grisly-looking security guards not to take any photos of any people in the lounge, especially if they were wearing the national uniform.

And all that on a three-day marathon to fly from snow-bound Atlanta to sticky Kuala Lumpur (and no, Doha is not exactly the most common route for this trip).

The photographer is cool enough to admit he didn't know where Doha was when they sold him a flight there--and we admit we don't know much more about it than a vague spot on the globe and a planned museum that's hidden in a sand dune. In fact, we figure that outside this fancy airport lounge, Doha is just dunes. Right?

Related Stories:
· Architecture Travel: Hidden Museum in the Desert, Doha [Jaunted]
· Doha Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Stuck in Customs]

Dance Away DVT at Paris Airports

August 1, 2008 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

We normally disregard all those handy stretching guides in the back of airport magazines, but moving around in the terminal can forestall the plane jitters. That's why we love the Aeroports de Paris plan to offer in-terminal dance lessons at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports this summer.

Learn anything from tango to twist on your layover this month before the program ends on August 17. Visit Gate 17 at Orly South, Gate 40 at Orly West and Gate E51 (Terminal 2E) at Charles de Gaulle to show 'em your best moves.

Related Stories:
· Flying to Cuba? Paris Airports Can Teach You Salsa [AP]
· Dansez à l'Aéroport! [Official Site, in French]
· Dance Dance! At Dance Valley [Jaunted]
· The Beach Volleyball Scene at Munich Airport [Jaunted]

[Photo: napix]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 31, 2008 at 3:32 PM | 0 Comments

Alright, kids. You've got a little more than eight hours to submit your winning idea in our Layover Nation contest. At stake, as we're sure you know, is a stay at a swanky hotel in the Caribbean or one of six shiny new smartphones.

So click over to the contest page and drop your entry in the comments by 11:59 tonight. Unless of course you enjoy paying for your trips to the Turks & Caicos.

Finalists will be announced on September 5, and the winner will be declared after Michael Kinsley tries out your tips on a round-the-world trip later this fall.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 29, 2008 at 5:00 PM | 0 Comments

OK, procrastinators. We know you've been holding onto those suggestions for our Layover Nation contest, but it's now or never. The deadline is this week, so you might as well drop your idea here to enter.

If your suggestion is top of the heap, you'll win a three-day vacay to the Turks & Caicos. Also up for grabs are six new Palm smartphones so you can stop waiting in line for that second-gen iPhone you want so bad.

Need tips on how to craft a winner? Look no further. Now go enter before it's too late!

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 22, 2008 at 4:30 PM | 0 Comments

The deadline for our Layover Nation Contest is July 31, and if we don't have your cool suggestions for how to kill time at a far-flung airport by then, you won't be winning a free trip to the Caribbean.

But we want you to win stuff! So Wendy Perrin, who's co-hosting this contest on her blog, put together some great tips:

· Come up with something surprising!

· Think like a storyteller

· Think internationally.

For even more specifics, click over to The Perrin Post. And once you've got your winning idea figured out, drop it here.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Adventures of Link: Layover Nation Edition

July 16, 2008 at 5:30 PM | 0 Comments

Earlier today, we gave you our Layover Nation Contest idea. Think you have something to top it?

Drop it here, and you could win yourself a three-day Caribbean vacay or a brand new smartphone. Just be sure to get that entry in by the end of the month.

If you still need some brainstorming help, check the links below for ideas we like. But remember! It's not what we're into that'll get you that Caribbean trip: It's all up to Michael Kinsley, who'll be trying out an idea or two on his round-the-world trip later this year.

Post your winning idea here.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· The "Top Gun" Beach Volleyball Scene at Munich Airport [Jaunted]
· Grubbing Fugu in Tokyo [Jaunted]
· Trying Thai in Sydney [HC]
· Going to Graceland in Memphis [HC]

Experience Real-Life "Top Gun" Beach Volleyball Scene at Munich Airport

July 16, 2008 at 11:30 AM | 0 Comments

If we weren't the ones running our Airport Layover Contest, we'd definitely enter this idea: "Airport Beach" at Munich Airport.

Starting August 1, pros and amateurs alike will set, spike and dig between Terminals 1 and 2 at the Munich Airport Center. August 10 is family day, and the German women's volleyball league champs--the Vilsbiburg Red Ravens, didn't you know?--will be on-hand to give pointers on the game. The fun wraps up August 15-17 with the 16-team Bavarian beach volleyball championship.

Admission to everything is free; if you're already in Munich, you get up to five hours of free airport parking if you're going to the games.

Related Stories:
· Airport Beach [Official Site]
· Airport Beach Opens Season at Munich Airport [PTT]
· Layovers coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 9, 2008 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

Believe it or not, the deadline for our Layover Nation Contest will be here before you know it. So now's the time to submit your ideas for an interesting airport time-killer.

One reader suggested hanging with breakdancers in Old City, Philadelphia. Another thinks visiting the Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple and Park is the world's best layover. Think you have a better idea?

Drop it here, and you could win yourself a three-day Caribbean vacay or a brand new smartphone. Just be sure to get that entry in by the end of the month.

Post your winning idea here.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 3, 2008 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments

Wait! Don't jet off for the long weekend just yet. Before you go, enter our Layover Nation Contest and your next holiday escape could be on us.

By now, you probably know that we're giving away a 3-day stay at The Regent Palms Resort Turks & Caicos to the coolest layover suggestion we see posted here, on HotelChatter or on the Perrin Post. It's really that easy--and it's a great thing to do while you're waiting for your boss to leave the office!

Post your winning idea here.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

July 1, 2008 at 4:45 PM | 1 Comment

A bunch of Jaunted readers have already entered our Layover Nation Contest. Won't you join them?

It's simple really. Think up a cool thing to do at any airport and then post it as a comment. If your idea is the best of the best, you'll be headed off on a free, 3-day trip to the Turks & Caicos. Runners up will bag Palm Centro smartphones.

Don't have a crazy layover idea from your own travels to use? Think closer to home: Your city's bound to have some interesting stuff a stranded traveler would love the check out!

ENTER HERE

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]

Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation

June 25, 2008 at 5:45 PM | 0 Comments

There's still plenty of time to enter our new Layover Nation contest. If you take five minutes to jot down a cool idea for a layover at any airport, anywhere, you'll be entered to win a free Caribbean vacation.

Seriously, it's that easy! In a few months, writer Michael Kinsley will look over the ideas, and if he thinks yours is the best of the bunch, you'll be on your way to a free three-night stay at The Regent Palms Resort Turks & Caicos.

Even if you're techincally second-best, you're still a winner in our book: Six runners up will take home Palm Centro smartphones.

Click over to the contest page and leave a comment to enter!

Related Stories:
· Jaunted Contest: Layover Nation [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Contests coverage [Jaunted]