What You Missed This Week: Travel News Roundup

We publish a lot of stories every week on Gadling. Sometimes you might miss one or two. Don’t spend your weekend combing for the must-read stories. We’ve gathered everything that was popular from the last week. Here’s your one-stop, weekly roundup.Most Read
Singapore Airlines Cancels the World’s Longest Commercial Flights

Most Unbelievable that it’s Even an issue
Majority of British Air Travelers Surveyed ‘Don’t Trust’ Female Pilots

Most Likely to Teach You a New Acronym
2014: The Year of the Traveling PANK?

Most Likely to Directly Impact Your Travels
Airbnb Is Having a Media Moment

Most Popular on Social Media
Pushing and Shoving Speeds Up Venezuelan Subway Boarding

Most Popular on AOL Travel
8 Hours in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pocket WiFi device offers cheap service in Europe

Using your US-based smart phone in Europe can make for some expensive phone calls. US service providers have international plans that can help but the average roaming charge across Europe costs US travelers $19 per MB. Connectivity is another issue as travelers struggle to get and stay online with phones, laptops, tablets and other wireless devices. Tep is a convenient and affordable service is now available and more than just a way to avoid roaming charges.

“At long last there is an alternative to expensive mobile phone roaming charges and the hassle of finding WiFi internet connections aboard,” said Tep Founder Tomas Mendoza. “Our star service, the pocket WiFi, gives business travelers the power to go anywhere connected with their laptop and Ipad, a priceless service when not being connected can cost time, money and business.”

The Tep pocket WiFi device offers an on-the-go connectivity service across 16 European countries anywhere, any time for $7.95 per day. This isn’t fixed WiFi hot spots, this is 3G on the move that can be used for multiple devices: laptops, tablets, phones.


“No longer will business travellers across Europe be held hostage by mobile phone operators making excessive profits out of their need to use their phones and stay connected” added Mendoza.

The company also rents phones and the simple three-step process is easy. First, users visit the Tep website, choose their Tep service, select travel dates and provide a delivery address. Next, the company delivers the device to their home or destination. Once received, users simply turn the device on to begin use. A pre-paid mailer is provided to return the device after use and all personal information is erased after return.

“With the number of broadband enabled mobile phones hitting the one billion mark this year, and with 70 percent of all consumer devices connected to the internet by 2014, TEP is providing a service that will allow consumers to get the most out of these devices, rather than being prevented from using them by profit-hungry operators,” Mendoza said.

$7.95 a day with unlimited wireless Internet usage stacks up pretty nicely compared to plans offered by hotels or Internet cafe’s and beats any US-based service provider’s International plans that we have heard of.

Flickr photo by Ed Yourdon

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More SXSW goodies: Free Lonely Planet Austin Guide for your iPhone

If you are heading to Austin for SXSW, you already know that you’ll be getting free Gogo Inflight Internet access on Alaska, American and Delta. And now Lonely Planet throws in another freebie.

The good folks at Lonely Planet have a very pleasant habit of lowering the prices of their excellent guides to celebrate events. Today, they follow that tradition by launching their new Austin guide – for free.

The app covers things to do, where to eat, , where to shop, neighborhood basics and more.

Since SXSW is a real strain on mobile networks, you’ll be happy to know that the app includes offline maps.

It is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and can be downloaded from the App store. The promotion started this morning and lasts till March 15 at 5PM PST, after it ends, the guide will go back up to its usual price ($5.99).

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10 passengers that we all love to hate

We’ve made it through Gadling’s top 10 passengers that drive us crazy over the past couple of weeks, and it has been a contentious, wild ride. Some bloggers can’t stand the upgrade panderers, others, the agressive seat recliners.

Truth of the matter is, everyone has cranky days when it seems like the entire travel world is conspiring against you, from the guy with standing on the wrong side of the escalator to the weather delays all over the east coast.

Travel has a way of throwing curve balls at you, forcing you to change your plan, roll with the punches and venture into the unknown. Maybe that’s why some of us love it so much, and why dealing with crazy passengers is part of the fun. Next time you’re on the road, keep an eye out for Gadling’s 10 passenges that we love to hate and maybe before you lose your cool, give them a wink for us.

Day 1: The Escalator Obstacle
Day 2: The Foodie
Day 3: The Baggage Claim Vulture
Day 4: The Upgrade Panderer
Day 5: The American Idiot
Day 6: The Parent with Uncontrollable Children
Day 7: The Bluetooth Bigshot
Day 8: The Call Button Coward
Day 9: The Converter
Day 10: The Recliner

Gadling’s Most Read: April 2009

Just in case you might have missed them, here’s a look back at our seven most-read travel posts published in the month of April.

  1. Clothing not optional at this German hotel
  2. Flight attendant blocks man from using bathroom — has him arrested
  3. President Obama thinks ‘Austrian’ is a language?
  4. 2008 Airline quality report says Hawaiian is nation’s best carrier
  5. TSA detains man for carrying cash
  6. Hyatt Gold Passport wants to know how you would spend 365 free nights and one million frequent flier miles
  7. TSA agent caught running a drug business on the side

From all of us here at Gadling, happy travels in the month ahead…