Gadling Take FIVE — March 14-March 20

by Jamie Rhein on

Happy first day of spring! This week we’re having a book give-a-way. Pico Iyer’s book The Open Road: Global Travels of the 14th Dalai Lama can be yours. All you have to do is leave a comment about a place that captured your attention at the end Iyer’s Talking Travel interview. Two winners will be picked in a random drawing.

Mike just came back from his awesome trip to New Zealand and Australia. He’s promised to give us the highlights of his travels. Here’s his first missive. Then there’s Kent who is racing about Europe with his wife. They’re in the Competitours Race competition, an Amazing Race style contest that is keeping them hopping and us entertained.

Here are five other posts on subjects that range from eats to hikes and worldwide events.

  • Did you know that tomorrow is World Water Day? Brenda’s post gives the scoop about the occasion and a link to events.
  • Karen’s post on the top 20 list of the most bizarre holiday grievances includes something having to do with the size of an elephant.
  • Annie is continuing to taste test jerky. This week she dove into buffalo jerky and presented her take in a flavorful post.
  • Because we have friends who are moving to El Salvador, Tom’s post on green travel in El Salvador caught my eye.
  • This week, one of Kraig’s posts gave the rundown on ten great unknown treks.

Go Green in El Salvador

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Latin America is becoming a hot spot for green travel, but most adventure-seekers look to Honduras and Nicaragua … rather than El Salvador, with which they share a border. With the country’s civil war in the past, a destination marketing campaign has been launched, and a new web portal can give prospective travelers a place to start.

Art and anthropology museums and other cultural venues dot the country’s capital, San Salvador. If you want to get off the map, check out Izalco, which has the largest indigenous community in the area. Also stop by the ruins of Joya de Ceren, considered to be the Pompeii of the Maya world, where village remains include a fully preserved Shaman’s hut.

This is your chance to truly get off the tourist grid. Scrap your conventional plans this year and try El Salvador. Different is definitely better.

Tegucigalpa what? Cheap tickets to Honduras for summer’s end

by Grant Martin on

You just don’t see that many cheap tickets to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras that often, so when this gem came along I just had to spread the word.

The Panamanian airline Copa is offering some pretty sweet fares around 300$ total between New York‘s JFK airport and Tegucigalpa (TGU) that are good for late this summer and into fall, perhaps because Toncontín airport is kind of a hazard and they’re trying to drum up business once shoulder season comes up.

You may have read recently (perhaps in light of Kent’s Plane Answers article) that TGU is closing down temporarily to rectify some of their runway and approach issues — bear in mind that Copa may reroute you to San Pedro instead. No worries, that’s just down the street.

And as far as Tegucigalpa goes as a destination? I haven’t heard a lot of great things about the capital, proper, but the city is 60 miles away from the Pacific Ocean and within spitting distance of El Salvador and Nicaragua. At the very least you use these cheap tickets as a stepping stone to your real vacation in Central America.

Tickets appear to be valid across a wide variety of dates starting in September but excluding Thanksgiving weekend. Use a flex search on Kayak to find dates that work for you.

Photo of the Day 1-20-08

by Catherine Bodry on


This pic was snapped in El Salvador by AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker. I chose it because, as I wrote earlier, I am craving Central America right now. I need color, action, some cobbled streets — and did I mention color? I love snow, but my life is awash in shades of white and gray right now, and I could use a little greenery.

Got some photos you think might ease the monotony of a winter at home? Upload them to Gadling’s Flickr pool, where they’ll be considered for our Photo of the Day Feature.