Gadling

With the 2009 turnover has come new beginnings and changes that have influenced the travel world. Some changes began to happen a few years to thousands of years ago.

• Jeremy who struggles with change on laundry day, discusses the lack of coins problem in Argentina, an issue that has been exaserbated by the economy.
• As a postive change, Brenda highlighted a recent move by President Bush. He announced this week that three marine monuments have been created in the Pacific Ocean in order to protect the environment. Yes, it's true, Shon. It was Bush, the guy in the White House. (Shon left a comment on Brenda's post. We love comments.)
• In his post on Australia's Monash University's new Web site, Aaron points describes how you can find out how the Earth's physical appearance has changed over thousands of years as ice has melted by using the interactive map.
• As tourism to Cambodia continues to rise, changes are happening in its travel landscape. Tom delves into the country's ecotourism efforts.
• Scott's post on the first passenger airplane from Europe to land in Baghdad over the last 18 years, hopefully, indicates positive changes to come. The charter plane from Sweden had mostly Iraqis on board. They now live in Europe.

This week also marked the beginning of Gadling's month long Budget Travel series where we point you towards places that might help you keep more change in your pocket. Check every Monday through Friday for new destinations. So far we've covered: Baltimore, Amsterdam, The Lake Effect Wine Trail, San Francisco, and Butte, Montana.

Also, don't miss the posts of Jon Bowermaster, Gadling's latest guest blogger who is writing posts from Antarctica. Each week there will be something to learn and enjoy from Jon's intimate connection. He first went to Antarctica twenty years ago as part of an international dog sled team.

Online travel searches may be down, but online bookings are up (at least in Europe). At the end of 2008, 29 percent of Europe's €246 billion travel industry happened in that strange place called the "internet." Traditional bookings are expected to inch higher by 3 percent, providing just a tad more proof that the action's on the web. PhoCusWright uncovered this and other travel tidbits in a series of reports it just released.

Spain's rail and hotel businesses are starting to shift more transactions to the web, making this country one of the fastest growing for online travel. Seventeen percent in 2007, online bookings are projected to hit 26 percent in 2010. I hope to be part of the solution, as I'll be booking my hotel in Madrid next month on FastBooking. Italy's expected to hit 18 percent by 2010.

France is already the second largest online direct booking market in Europe and isn't slowing down. In 2008, it grew an estimated 16 percent to €7.3 billion, but online travel agencies are growing at an even faster rate. More than 25 percent of all travel is booked online in France, with Germany not far behind at around 20 percent.

Yeah, and there's a whole lot more. If you're a stats geek like I am, check out some of the reports that PhoCusWright has available on the travel market. Interesting stuff.

It's happened to all of us. You're lounging at the beach or by the pool, feeling all warm and glamorous. You want to remember that feeling forever, so you have a picture taken. Then, you look at the picture and realize you hate yourself.

Carson Kressley, who I had the privilege of interviewing over on StyleList, has put together the above video to help you look good in your swimming suit photos. No more "Oh my God, you have to delete that" out of you!

Even a size 2 can look fat in their bathing suit. Remember the Jennifer Love Hewitt scandal? The video includes tips such as:

• Use a prop, like a beach ball, to hide problem areas.
• How to do the Hollywood leg pose (for ladies).
• Men, twist your torso.
• Don't be looking into the sun, you'll squint.

See more of Nikon's Look Good in Pictures series with Carson Kressley here at LookGoodinPictures.com.

Nearly 350 passengers on the MSC Sinfonia, a Swiss-owned cruise ship that left Rio de Janeiro one week ago, have come down with some kind of food borne virus that's caused a massive outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea on board, according to the Associated Press.

The ship had to be steered into port at Salvador, Bahia, where the passengers are reportedly recovering. Spokespeople for the cruise liner say the virus is not life threatening.

There were 2,000 passengers on board the cruise, mostly from Brazil.

Inspections found high amounts of chlorine in the cruise liner's drinking water and problems with the storage of perishable food items like mayonnaise, the AP says.

An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the outbreak. The Brazilian agency in charge of it is called the National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance, and if that isn't a great name for a government department, I don't know what is.

My daily deal for today is for a (refurbished) Plantronics Discovery 640E Bluetooth headset.

This tiny Bluetooth headset comes complete with a "pen style" charger, and allows you to charge the device off AC power or with a single AAA battery cell.

The package also includes various other ear clips and gels, which should help you get the most comfortable fit for.

The Plantronics 640E has been refurbished, which means it was once returned to the manufacturer, and has been returned to its "as new" condition. Don't worry about the ear pieces; those are all brand new and unused. Because the product is refurbished, it only comes with a 90 day warranty.

This headset used to retail for well over $100, but buy.com currently has it on clearance for just $14.99 with free shipping.

Summary: Butte, a town in the southwestern part of Montana, began as a group of gold and silver mining camps in the 1870s. When copper mining boomed, it grew into one of the wealthiest spots in the United States. During WW I, Butte was called "The Richest Hill on Earth." Never mind that Jon Stewart's the "Daily Show" made fun of Butte a couple years ago. It's one of those towns with a unique place in American history that is evident at every corner.

The reason for the Daily Show fun-poking is the Berkeley Pit, the now shut down open copper mine. When the mine closed, it resulted in a lake of toxic water that has since become a tourist attraction. Like I said, never mind that. Butte, unlike what the Daily Show reported, has much to offer the traveler who is looking for a wonderful time that is easy on the wallet. For that reason, Butte has been experiencing quite the tourist boom over the past few years. This is a town that blends hard scrabble and artsy--the old with the new.

As people have discovered Butte's charm and splendor, some have moved here bringing their money with them. Historic brick and stone Victorian-style buildings have been lovingly restored, and Butte's can-do spirit has thrived. Evel Knievel was born and raised here, for example. Still, this is a city where laid back might as well be its middle name. You can walk to most places of interest, although, hopefully, you're fond of walking up long hills. Butte has a doozey.

I didn't grow up camping. My family is not particularly outdoorsy. So, as embarrassed as I am to say this as I approach my 30th birthday, I went camping for the first time only two years ago. That said, I've been hooked ever since. And I've spent the last two years assembling my own collection of camping gear. The downside of not growing up with a tradition of camping is that I didn't own any gear to get my collection started. The upside is that I have been able to research the best products and ones that fit my style. So, when it came time to acquire the pièce de résistance, a tent, I took my research seriously. After much consternation, I selected the Big Agnes Big House 6. I recently put the tent and the optional footprint (sold separately) to the test on a camping trip on the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico.

The first thing you notice about the Big House 6 is that it's, well, big. It truly is made to house six adults. Which is why it's so shocking to see that it is held up by only three tent poles. The last thing you want to do when you get to your campsite is assemble several tent poles of various lengths and sort out which pole goes in which sleeve. To have a legitimate six-person tent held up by three poles of equal lengths is incredibly comforting. The second thing you'll notice is that you don't need six people to assemble this tent. In fact, if you want to send five people off to get firewood, s'mores supplies and a few cases of beer, one person could get the tent up in about ten minutes. I know because I did a test run with the tent...alone...in my Manhattan apartment.

For years, San Diego has been working hard to find a new location for its single runway Lindbergh airport.

Back in 2003, a group of investors announced that they had found the perfect location, but would not reveal it until the government granted a patent for the concept.

The patent was granted 2 weeks ago, which meant it was time to reveal the location of this super secret airport - turns out the group wants the new airport built in the San Diego bay.

"Crackpot stuff" is the initial reaction from a former state Senator, "a complete nonstarter" is how a spokeswoman from the environmental health coalition describes it.

The plan calls for a 3-runway island with a heliport, cruise terminal, ferry facility and the potential for military co-use. Passengers to the airport would reach the island through an underwater tunnel.

The site is right on the edge of a large wildlife refuge and several other environmentally sensitive pieces of land.

So far, the location has already been declined by the airport authority who claim the FAA would never allow a north-south runway due to wind conditions. The business group behind the plans claimed they had the FAA's blessing, but the FAA later denied giving such a blessing.

I'm not entirely sure why the proposal required a patent, man made island airports are certainly not new, Hong Kong opened Chek Lap Kok airport on an island in 1998, and Japan built its new Kansai airport on similar ground in 1994. Of course, each of those airports cost $20 Billion to construct, and I have a hard time imagining the US finding that kind of cash for a new airport any time soon.

(Via: SignOn San Diego)

BootsnAll, a great online resource for independent travelers, has put together their list of top 10 destinations for 2009. The locations on the list are lauded for the options they offer the experienced traveler who is looking to explore on his or her own.

Last year's list was compiled by the writers and staff from BootsnAll, but for the 2009 edition they opened it up for suggestions from their very well traveled community as well. The results are ten great suggesions for experinced, adventurous travelers hoping to go abroad this year.

Some of the places on the list are a bit more obvious than others. For instances, Tasmania comes in at number ten, as Australia has long been considered a great destination for independent travelers, and the remote island maintains helps to maintain that reputation. On the other hand, the number one spot is held down by Columbia, which has not always been a great destination for visitors, independent or otherwise. But in recent years, the country has undergone a bit of a resurgence, and has now become a favorite destination for savvy travelers everywhere.

The other eight locations on the list are quite ecclectic as well, and span the globe, offering a wide variety of experiences and settings. There is something for everyone, from the outdoor adventurer to the more relaxed traveler looking for a more quiet escape. If you're an independent traveler looking for a destination this year, you could do worse than starting with this list.

Dear Heather

You said your husband travels over 100,000 miles per year, and you are spending January away from home. Isn't that hard on your child? I think I'd find a career that kept me home more often.

DJ

Dear DJ,

Two weeks ago I found myself commuting home in first class sitting next to a seventeen year-old boy on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. "Are you going to LA on vacation?" I asked him.

"No, I'm going to Sydney, Australia. I'm just connecting through Los Angeles," he said as he took a bite of ice cream covered in hot fudge.

I looked around the cabin for his parents, but there were no parent-y looking people sitting nearby "Are you going there alone?"

"Yeah. I have friends there."

"Wow," I said, because not only had I never traveled overseas until I began working international routes in 1998 at the age of twenty-six, I still haven't been to Australia, a place I'm dying to visit one day. "I'm really impressed," I added.

He smiled. "My dad's a Captain."

And there you have it, ladies and gentleman, the benefits of being the child of an airline employee. Something tells me that the kid I sat next to in first class, the one eating an ice cream sundae who was on his way to meet friends in Australia is not complaining about the fact that his father worked a job that took him away from home. Though I could be wrong.