Looking back: The top 20 Gadling articles of 2010

by Scott Carmichael on

Well, 2010 is finally in its last hours, so what better time to take a look back at some of the articles that generated the most buzz on Gadling.

And what a year it has been – ignoring the continuing global economic malaise, for travelers this year brought the tallest hotel in the world, invasive crotch scanning x-ray machines and the death of the “staycation”.

We’ll also take this time to wish you all a very happy, safe and well traveled 2011. We love each and every one of our readers, and can’t wait to bring you even more fantastic stories next year.

  1. Video shows the cause of Newark Airport shutdown
  2. It’s a Small World after all: Walt Disney World vacation photo captures familiar face
  3. Caught on tape: Basketball shot made from a theme park ride
  4. Videos: bad baggage handlers (or, Remind me again why we pay to check luggage!)
  5. Galley Gossip: 3 reasons flight attendants won’t allow passengers to switch seats in flight
  6. Galley Gossip: Interview with musician Josh Wilson (The Hey, Jude Newark Airport guy)
  7. Disguised Asian stopped in Vancouver — best disguise ever
  8. Furious Ryanair passenger eats his $13,600 winning lottery ticket
  9. Original Hershey Chocolate Factory closing in Hershey, Pennsylvania
  10. Hotel room security defeated by a piece of wire – can be secured with a towel

[Photo from: Flickr/coquetboy]

  1. 35 fantastic U.S. beaches for Summer
  2. Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans video is creeping us out
  3. Cops arrest entire drunk crew from Ukraine airline
  4. Snooze tips from a NYC sleep concierge
  5. 10 hilarious (and painful, and frightening) ski lift videos
  6. Keep your data safe when connecting to public wireless hotspots
  7. Five states where you’re most likely to hit a deer this fall
  8. Hitchhiker’s Requiem
  9. Airplane safety applies to everyone, even Willy Wonka
  10. Plane Answers: Can passengers survive an explosive depressurization?

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong closes out 2010 with ‘quirky’ stats from spa, restaurants

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s more to hotels than guest rooms and bars. The people behind the scenes – from the food and beverage staff to the spa therapists and general management – work to make your stay special. But did you ever stop to wonder just what they do when they’re planning their daily guest check-ins?

I checked in with my friends at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, to see how their year shaped up and was surprised to find some pretty interesting statistics. It just goes to show you… a hotel stay is more than room service and a helpful concierge (although they certainly add to the ambiance). It’s the little things that happen around you that really make a difference.

Did you know that since January, the Pastry Kitchen at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, has consumed around 212,000 pounds of flour and around 43,000 pounds of butter to make their pastry creations? Did you know that the restaurant has sold over 14,000 portions of its signature dish, Hainan Chicken Rice and produced more than 55,000 pieces of Dim Sum items?

Here’s a look at some of the quirky things have happened behind the scenes at one of Hong Kong’s favorite hotels:

  • Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has produced over 60,000 freshly baked scones for their legendary afternoon teas.
  • Since January, The Mandarin Cake Shop has produced over 10,000 jars of their Rose Petal Jam.
  • Since January, The Mandarin Cake Shop has produced over 7,500 signature American Cheesecakes for all cake-lovers.
  • Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s Pastry team has baked over 9,000 Almond Croissants in 2010.
  • The Mandarin Barber has conducted 14,076 haircuts this year.
  • The Mandarin Spa has performed over 12,000 massages during 2010 and used over 84 cups of massage oil this year.
  • The Mandarin Spa and Salon has manicured over 4,500 pairs of hands since January 2010
  • Guests in the hotel’s Clipper Lounge have consumed around 455,000 pieces of Oyster in 2010.

Next time you walk into a hotel think about the amount of work that goes into each guest throughout the year. You never know… you might the first one to experience a new spa service or a signature dish, or you might be the guest that helps create a hotel’s new dessert menu item!

Daily gear deals: $20 iPad stand, $10 wireless notebook mouse and more

by Scott Carmichael on

Here are the hottest daily gear deals for today, Friday December 31, 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today’s first deal is for the highly rated LapWorks iPad flipstand. This compact folding iPad stand packs away when not in use and lets you view your iPad at any angle you want. On sale for $19.99. Click here for this deal.

Next up are the Motorola S305 wireless Bluetooth stereo headphones. These normally sell for around $89, but are now on sale for $33.99. Click here for this deal.

Today’s third deal is for a Kensington wireless notebook mouse. The mouse has been refurbished, but that brings the price down from $29.99 to just $9.99. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today’s lineup is the JVC Picsio pocket HD camcorder. The camera records in 1080P full HD and shoots photos in 8MP. Refurbished, and on sale for $68.99 at Dillyeo.

Gadling t-shirts go on adventure travel around the world

by Sean McLachlan on


One of the best things about blogging for Gadling is seeing where my coworkers are off to next. Like me, they’re sure to pack that essential item for every adventure traveler’s kit: the Gadling t-shirt.

We’ve collected photos of Gadlingers flying their colors in some of the most remote parts of the world, and some places that are not so remote but equally rugged, such as the waiting area at JFK airport. Above we see Mike Barish in Rotorua, New Zealand , with his new girlfriend an ostrich who looks very jealous of Mike’s stylish choice in adventure apparel. Check out the gallery for a photo of him getting up close and personal with a lizard on the Tiwi Islands, Australia.

Mike says, “Something about my Gadling shirt seems to attract wildlife (sadly, that has also included mosquitoes). These two critters behaved themselves while I posed with them, but neither seemed particularly thrilled to share the spotlight with me. “

Also in the gallery you’ll see Annie Scott on the Zambezi River, Zambia, and at JFK; Jeremy Kressmann at Kuang Si waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos; Sean McLachlan in Somaliland and the Jesse James Farm, Missouri; and Tom Johansmeyer heading to the airport.

We’re all busy planning our trips for 2011, so if you have any place you’d like us to write up, drop us a line. Our dance cards aren’t full yet and we’re a pretty flexible bunch. At least that’s what the ostrich says about Mike.

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Foreign visitor travel spending over $100 billion in United States

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Visitors from outside the United States brought close to $12 billion with them in October, making it the tenth month in a row that spending by this group grew year over year. On average this year, total travel and tourism exports have increased $1.4 billion a month. People are visiting us again!

According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, travel– and tourism-related exports reached $11.9 billion in October 2010, an 18 percent ($1.8 billion) gain relative to October 2009. The money foreign visitors spent on fares surged $709 million to $2.8 billion for the month, an increase of 34 percent. Travel receipts (i.e., everything but flights, boats, etc.) amounted to $9.1 billion for October 2010, up 13 percent year over year.

For the first 10 months of 2010, international visitors spent $111.5 billion on travel to the United States and on travel-related goods and services once in the country, up 11 percent year over year. Meanwhile, Americans spent $85.5 billion abroad during this period, up 4 percent year over year.

[photo by law_keven via Flickr]