“The Data Port - Tucson Citizen” plus 3 more |
- The Data Port - Tucson Citizen
- Essential airport information for travelers - flights ... - Examiner
- Joseph Bookshop - Wallowa County Chieftain
- New Travel Guides, From Lonely Planet to Luxury - EDGE Boston
| The Data Port - Tucson Citizen Posted: 19 May 2010 07:41 PM PDT
 Still a Fascinating Ride My long distance riding season runs from about mid-May to mid-October. Those are the months when I am most likely to throw a leg over one of my motorcycles and head out to a Rally; or simply take a few days off to wander America's blue highways.
The best guide books for the kind of riding I enjoy most were launched in 1935, long before the interstate highway system was established. They are the books in the American Guides Series, written during the heart of the great depression by the Federal Writers Project, a program of the WPA.
Guides were written for each of the forty-eight states, plus Alaska, Puerto Rico and Washington DC.
Each volume followed the same pattern. The writers and researchers (over 6000 in all) wrote essays on the history, culture and folklore of each state, described the major cities, and developed a series of motor tours covering virtually all of the state's roads (many of them unpaved) and major attractions.
The collections of black and white photographs that grace each book are wonderful.
We tend to lose sight of the fact that it wasn't until the mid 1930s that you could actually drive from coast to coast on paved roads. The development of "motor touring" required a whole new kind of guide book. If you traveled from Chicago to Phoenix in 1900 you took the train. You might want a guide to Chicago or a guide to Phoenix but you didn't need a guide to all the "in between places."
These books are fascinating today… capturing as they do the feel and texture of our near past. They are perfect companions for a few days of relaxed touring.
A number of well-known American writers took part in this project. Among the names you might recognize are: Conrad Aiken, Saul Bellow, John Cheever, Loren Eisley, Ralph Elison, Nelson Algren, John Steinbeck, Studs Terkel, Richard Wright, and Frank Yerby…to mention only a few.
I believe that many of the Guides included official road maps. My cherished and battered guide to New Mexico included a 1942 state roadmap and I've ridden many of its roads…only now, of course, the roads are paved.
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| Essential airport information for travelers - flights ... - Examiner Posted: 19 May 2010 09:11 AM PDT Continuing the series on travel tips, we take a look at airport information and guides. Airports all over the world are as diverse as the people who pass through them every day. They can be really busy and serve thousands of people a day. Others can be really small serving small towns and cities. Many have airport lounges, interesting and diverse places to eat, a variety of terminals, and a number of different amenities. For some, airports are a fascinating stopping point before reaching their new destination or arriving back home. For others, it's a necessary evil that comes with travel and are just places that bring a lot of frustration. Regardless of your opinions on airports, knowing more about airports and what they offer can make your traveling experience more enjoyable and less stressful.. Airport guides and maps Finding your way around an airport can be confusing for many people. With so many airports, terminals, and designs, getting from one gate to another could involve walking, riding a bus, taking a train, using an elevator or escalator, or walking on a moving sidewalk. Some airports have just a few gates with one terminal while others have many terminals for domestic and international flights. With the diversity of airports in the world, it can be hard for a traveler to find their way around. Some people may have to run to their next flight while others may have long layovers. Whatever the situation, it's good to know an airport's layout, amenities, wait times through security, and other helpful information for getting you through the airport on your next flight. A number of different websites can assist you in providing this information. www.worldtravelguide.net/airport/ gives you parking information, phone numbers, addresses, terminal information, and nearby hotels for more than 250 airports all over the world. For the history of an airport, amenities, shops, and activities near the airport, www.expedia.com/daily/airports tracks information for a number of airports worldwide. For those wanting to know how to get from one gate to the next, www.airportterminalmaps.com can provide you with an airport's layout and diagrams of the terminals for many domestic and international airports. Knowing all of this information can help you find the best way to get to your next gate and what mode of transportation will get you there the fastest. For almost any airport you fly into, this information can be informational, save you time, and even help you find that next meal. Real-time flight arrival and departure information Flying has changed so much in the last few years that there is no other era in aviation history that can be compared to it. For one, there are so many more airlines today than just a few years ago. Unfortunately, there are a number of those struggling to make it financially. As a result, prices are higher, passengers are charged for a number of different services and items, and the number of flights has dropped in recent years. On the flip side, technology has made information so readily available that checking flights, purchasing tickets, and communicating with airlines and people have become instantaneous. What this means for passengers is that flight delays are up and flying is as hectic as ever but getting updates on travel is in the palm of our hands (literally). For many people, Twitter is an easy way to keep up-to-date with the airlines and get instant information and provide feedback. However, sometimes more up-to-date information is needed to get real-time information on flights. With the use of cell phones, iPhones, Blackberries, and Droids, instant information is at the touch of our fingertips. www.flightstats.com may be one of the most useful sights out there for information on flights. It shows real-time status of departing and arriving flights by airport, airport weather conditions, facts and figures about airports, traffic conditions, and airport security wait times. flightaware.com allows you to check flights by flight number, airport code, or by flight/tail number (for small aircraft). From there, you can get more information on total flights in the air, flight activity in the US, and departing and arriving flights. So while airline websites can be useful information for flights, knowing what is going on at airports in terms of on-time arrivals and departures, weather, security wait times, and other airport information can help with planning and communication on your next flight. Alternate airports (and other useful information) Many times, flying into the big international airport in a city may not be the best or cheapest option for many people. Smaller or alternate airports may be better choices for getting to your destination or saving a few bucks when you travel. For example, Chicago has two airports - O'Hare and the lesser known airport Midway. Newark may be a better choice than JFK or LaGuardia. Choosing Oakland or San Jose may save you time and money over San Francisco. For those who want to explore alternate airports when you travel, www.alternateairports.com is run by the travel guru Johnny Jet and allows you to view all airports for cities in the US including the alternate ones. Johnny Jet's website (www.johnnyjet.com) provides more information on nearly every possible area of travel - train, parking, subway, airports, lodging, gadgets, travel guides, air safety, family travel, and many, many more areas. For more information on airports, you can use www.airportcodes.us to find all the 3 digit airport codes by city so you can locate the most convenient airport for you. Technology Aside from the use of cell phones and mobile devices for passengers, technology has become huge in the airports themselves. Many airports haver kiosks and stores which allow passengers to rent DVDs or purchase music and mp3 players for their flights. Technology is not only an asset. It's become business for the airports and airlines. In my article Finding the best seat for your flight, I mentioned the use of SeatGuru and how you can find out which seats have laptop power, Wi-Fi, and video on the various airlines. Many airports also offer Wi-Fi capabilities, many of which do it for free. Get more information on Wi-Fi at www.travelpost.com/airport-wireless-internet.aspx or www.wififreespot.com/airport.html. Then you will know that the next time you are in Phoenix, Sacramento, or Orlando, you can enjoy Wi-Fi for free (check these sites as well as the airports themselves as this information can change). Family-friendly Many airports now offer services that cater to families and kids. A few years ago, the American Society of Travel Agents asked their members which had the most family friendly airports in the US and abroad. By a large margin, Orlando was the winner in the US while London took the top spot for international airports. Orlando's airport design, classical music, arts, kid-friendly stores (it is the home of Disney World), video games, and aquariums made this a fun place for kids. Atlanta finished second with its play areas, TVs, and exhibits. Rounding out the top 5 were Denver, Tampa, Charlotte, Detroit, and Minneapolis-St Paul (Denver and Tampa tied at #3 while Detroit and Minneapolis-St Paul tied at #5). For international airports, Schipol (Amsterdam), Frankfurt, Gatwick (London), and Changi (Singapore) rounded out the top 5. While these may be the airports at the top for kid-friendly, there are many others that offer something for kids with exhibits, hands-on experiences, and fun things for kids to do. On top of keeping kids entertained, many airports have started family-only security lines to ease the stress and burden of traveling for families with kids. For more information on these kid-friendly airports and family security lines, check out the airport guides above or go directly to the airport's website. Shopping and relaxing The idea of shopping appeals to many while waiting at the airports or before getting on that last flight home. Whether it is checking out the bookstore, shopping for clothes and accessories, buying music or movies, or checking out the duty free shops, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase items for your travels and return home. Duty free shopping is the purchase of goods which are exempt from import taxes. On the surface, this may sound like a good idea as you are looking to get rid of that last bit of change or currency in your pocket. However, sometimes duty free isn't the cheapest option for shopping. Sometimes you can find better prices than what you would pay at home where you are taxed for them. For information on duty free shopping in countries all over the world, www.worldtravelguide.net/country/ has a duty free section for each country letting you know the restrictions and guidelines for bringing items into the country. Many of the airport guides above also feature the shops available at many of the airports so you can plan your next outing when you land. For those looking to relax, there is always room to spread out in those uncomfortable seats at the gates. However, for the business or more well-traveled passenger, frequent flier and first class passengers enjoy the VIP lounges with a wide variety of amenities. Many of these lounges vary by airport and airline as to what they offer. From flat screen HD TVs to gourmet food to showers to beds, many of these services are first class. However, if you aren't a member of these frequent flier programs, don't travel first class, and don't spend much of your life in an airport, there are still ways to enjoy this type of luxury. www.prioritypass.com and www.loungepass.com can give you access to lounges in over 100 countries Prices for this access range from around $27 per visit to $399 a year for a membership. So you can relax in style no matter where you travel. Sleeping and parking Speaking of relaxing, the more frugal and budget conscious traveler can find the best airports for taking a nap or spending the night. If your airline is at fault for you missing your flight and having to spend the night, they can put you up in a hotel. For others, there are many airports that offer transit lounges, sleeping pods, or rent-by-the-hour beds to snooze. As a last resort, sleeping in the airport may be your only option. For that, you can check out www.sleepinginairports.net to find the best places in airports to sleep and which airports are the most sleep-friendly. Before you reach check-in or right after you arrive home, there is one more inconvenient and often costly stop - airport parking. Knowing your airport and the best, cheapest, and most convenient place to park is an issue of both time and money. Parking in the economy lots and taking the shuttle is the cheapest option but also takes the most time. Parking close to the terminal is ideal but also costs the most money. Aside from the resources above which you can use to find parking maps and the best places to park, there are more convenient ways to park at the airport. Some airports offer you the chance to book your spot in advance. Check out www.airportparking.com, parknflynetwork.com, or airportparkingreservations.com for more information Conclusion Every airport is different. They vary not only in their design and layout but in their flight schedules, amenities, wait times, and extras. Getting around the airport and making it a little more stress free could be a matter of just being prepared. Hopefully, this information will help you navigate your way through the terminals, lines, and crowds to help your enjoy your airport experience a little more. Today is the last day for $49 deals on Southwest and check out these events for kids and adults for Easter and Passover this weekend. For information on Sacramento's airport, check out airports.co.sacramento.ca.us/int/ or find your airport's website at www.worldtravelguide.net/airport/. Thanks to information from Peter Greenberg (www.petergreenberg.com) for some of the information provided in this article. If you want to get an email any time a new Budget Travel story is posted, just click on the Subscribe link above (no spamming and you can unsubscribe at any time). Now you can follow me on Twitter or on Facebook. Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |
| Joseph Bookshop - Wallowa County Chieftain Posted: 12 May 2010 06:38 PM PDT
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| New Travel Guides, From Lonely Planet to Luxury - EDGE Boston Posted: 12 May 2010 09:08 PM PDT Spring is the time when many travelers plan their biggest vacations of the year: Leisurely road trips, family getaways with kids out of school, and travel abroad over the peak summer season. Here are some of the new guidebook releases from this season to inspire you and help plan your itineraries. They include titles from Lonely Planet, Frommer's, DK Eyewitness, a luxury hotel group, and Budget Travel. LONELY PLANET'S DISCOVER SERIES: Once upon a time, the stereotypical Lonely Planet reader was an adventurous young backpacker on a budget, ready to rough it and explore. But today Lonely Planet fans include older travelers, travelers who don't mind spending more for comfort, and travelers looking for advice about basics and must-sees, not just offbeat adventures. To cater to this audience, Lonely Planet has launched a new series called "Discover," with thick $25 paperback books just released on Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain and Thailand. The books are ideal for planning one- to two-week trips. "Discover Europe" will be added to the series May 10. The full-color books include maps, best-of lists, recommendations for a variety of budgets, tips from locals on visiting major attractions, and suggested itineraries organized by region, theme and length of trip. One especially nice touch: "If You Like" features direct readers to less well-known attractions by comparing them to better-known places. For example, the Venice section of the Italy guide says that "If you like the masterpieces of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, we think you'll like these other modern art gems," and it goes on to list Ca' Pesaro and Museo della Fondazione Querini Stampalia. FROMMER'S DAY BY DAY GUIDES: Frommer's "Day by Day" city guides have been among the brand's best-selling books for years. Earlier this year, Frommer's launched full-size "Day by Day" guides to countries, states and other large regions. The full-color books are itinerary-based, include more than 100 maps and a pocket with a large pullout map, and are chock-full of photos. "Frommer's Italy Day by Day," "Frommer's Ireland Day by Day" and "Frommer's Hawaii Day by Day" are available now, while Costa Rica and Spain are due out in October. The guides, all under $30, include easy-to-use features like what to see if you have a day, three days or a week, and "best-of" lists for lodging, dining and shopping. The Ireland guide, for example, includes a list of favorite moments (taking afternoon tea at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, visiting the Giant's Causeway, and seeing the murals of the Belfast peace wall), along with a list of favorite small towns (Carlingford, Inistioge, Kinsale, Kenmare, Dingle). Also new from Frommer's is "500 Adrenaline Adventures," providing inspiration for daredevils, geeks and other travelers with a taste for unusual, wacky and heart-racing experiences. Among the ideas listed in the $20 paperback: ziplining, wildlife encounters, extreme eating contests, like the famous Coney Island hot dog competition, and the annual Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Race in England. DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL'S BACK ROADS: Road trips are a beloved way to explore America, but DK Eyewitness Travel has launched a new series this spring to inspire road trips in Europe. The "Back Roads" series includes guides to France, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland and Spain. Each $25 paperback describes two dozen "leisurely drives" designed to take anywhere from a day to a week. Tours outlined in the France book, for example, include the Alsace wine route, Obernai to Eguisheim; the Champagne route, Reims to Montagne de Reims; Normandy, from Giverny to Varengeville-sur-Mer; and the Pyrenees, from Collioure to St-Jean-de-Luz. Other features include mapped itineraries with highlights, detours and activities; "where the locals go" listings of small hotels and restaurants with regional cuisine; a pullout country map; zip codes to make it easy to coordinate the text with a GPS; and practical information on driving conditions, road signs and parking. LUXURY COLLECTION DESTINATION GUIDES: This set of six paperbacks from The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a group of more than 70 hotels and resorts in 30 countries, includes guides to India, Italy, the U.S., Spain, Argentina and Greece. The slim paperbacks do not offer the detailed content of traditional travel guides but do have lush photographs, inspirational quotes and a few pages of highlights listing select museums, cultural institutions, shops and restaurants in each destination. Each guide also includes commentary from celebrity chefs, with Mario Batali providing his thoughts on Italy, including a recipe for tortelloni with sage butter and his recommendations for favorite restaurants: Cibreo and Teatro del Sale in Florence; Al Covo, Da Fiore and Lina d'Ombra in Venice, and Ristorante Matricianella, Roscioli, Antico Forno and Checchino in Rome. The set of six, packaged in a beautiful oversized box, costs $140. The books will be available in Luxury Collection guest rooms, in Assouline Boutiques in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, and online at http://www.luxurycollection.com and other retailers. THE SMART FAMILY'S PASSPORT: This book from Budget Travel, $14.95, is subtitled "350 Money, Time & Sanity Saving tips." Among the suggestions: Bring powdered iced-tea or fruit-punch packets to theme parks and add them to cups of water to save money on expensive drinks; find out if a membership to your local museum has reciprocal privileges at other institutions where you can get in free when you travel; and make your own picture dictionary. That way, if you don't know a foreign word for bathroom or taxi, you can get help from a local wherever you are just by pulling up the picture of the object on your phone or camera.
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