Travel often turns my expectations upside down. In 1999, I visited Iran with a small group of Americans to watch a total eclipse of the sun. On the afternoon of the event, I found myself alone in Esfahan’s vast Khomeini Square: one American among 50,000 Iranians.
From the monthly archives:
March 2007
One of the lesser-known Orlando-area attractions is the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame near the Kennedy Space Center. I’d almost go so far as to use the term overlooked, but it’s impossible to miss the Space Shuttle in front of the building as you approach from the East. (Then your attention quickly turns to the Space Center only a few miles away.)
The travel blogosphere is consumed with stories about airlines canceling flights. But hardly anything has been written about cruise lines canceling sailings and leaving their customers high and dry — literally. Case in point: the July 7 sailing of the Norwegian Dawn.
This must be the week to buy a travel Web site. TripAdvisor has acquired SmarterTravel, according to Expedia, TripAdvisor’s parent company. Terms weren’t disclosed.
ELLIOTT’S E-MAIL
Travel tips, news and information
March 7, 2007
I know your future. I’m no fortune-teller, but I know a thing or two about the news business. And during the last few months, it’s become crystal clear that the way you want your information is changing. In a big way. This week, in the first of what [...]
What does an airline owe you for a 30-hour delay? If the weather is to blame, the answer is: nothing. But Vinit Desai isn’t so sure that Mother Nature is the culprit when American Airlines plays the weather card on his recent flight from San Francisco to Pittsburgh. Find out if he’s right.
Late yesterday I learned that FlyerTalk, the popular travel community operated by frequent flier guru Randy Petersen, was being sold to Internet Brands. In response to my inquiries, the acquiring company issued a brief statement that it “looked forward to having FlyerTalk join the Internet Brands’ family of travel websites.” It did not disclose any other details, including terms of the deal.
Largely overlooked in Spirit Airways’ decision to go RyanAir — and can anyone blame the mainstream media for being fixated on its announcement to start charging customers for checked luggage and soft drinks? — is this whole business about becoming an “ultra low-cost carrier.”
Because we live in Orlando — and because we have annual passes to every attraction within driving distance of our house — readers are always asking us for “insider” tips about the area’s theme parks.
I spend more time on the road than the average hotel concierge. I founded the American chapter of Les Clefs d’Or, a professional association of concierges, which takes me to meetings all over the world. And when I’m off work, I travel, too. It’s my hobby.
The travel blogosphere likes to get all lathered up about norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships — and yes, I’m one of those commentators who doesn’t miss an opportunity to join in. But how about the hotels that have similar problem? That was the case just yesterday at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City.
There’s an interesting interview with Passenger Bill of Rights opponent Kevin Mitchell in the March 5 issue of US News & World Report. Asked if the recent runway imprisonment incidents were a wake-up call for the airline industry, the chairman of the Business Travel Coalition said: “Let’s put it this way. I think if something like this happened again in two weeks, it would be lights out, game over, and there would be no stopping legislation.” Well, why wait? It’s happened again.
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