Photo Of The Day: Ghost Town Gas Station

by Anna Brones on

The road trip: that iconic form of travel that lets us explore at a different pace. If you have ever crossed the country on four wheels, you know the role that gas stations play, both for keeping your vehicle going, and for strong black coffee and snacks. If you are lucky, there’s even a good diner attached. But as more and more people fly to complete their trips, is the iconic middle-of-nowhere gas station a thing of the past?

For today’s Photo of the Day Flickr user smallscreen gives us a great look at a piece of Americana, a ghost-like gas station in Chloride, Arizona, that’s reminiscent of a time where gas was 35 cents a gallon and people were cruising in old Chevrolets.

Do you have an interesting look into your travels? Add your photos to the Gadling Flickr pool to be chosen for the Photo of the Day feature.

[Photo Credit: smallscreen]

Tourists Mistaken For Illegal Immigrants Beaten By Greek Police

by Reena Ganga on

Greek authorities have been cracking down on illegal immigrants to the country but a number of tourists have been detained as part of the sweep. Some of the travelers have even been beaten so badly by police that they ended up in the hospital, according to the BBC.

Greek police patrolling the streets are stopping anyone who looks foreign and asking to see their ID. However, many tourists claim to have been arrested and taken to a police station despite showing authorities their passport.

One tourist from Korea says a police officer punched him in the face after he handed over his passport when stopped in the street in Athens. He was then taken to the police station where he was attacked again in a stairwell.

Another man traveling with his family on a US passport says he was beaten so badly after being detained that he fell unconscious. He woke to find himself in a hospital.

“I went there to spend my money but they stopped me just because of my color. They are racist.” Christian Ukwuorji told the BBC.Greece has been clamping down on illegal immigration as the country’s economic woes make it increasingly difficult to support the growing numbers of immigrants. It’s believed that as much as 10 percent of the country’s population is living there illegally.

Greece is also under pressure from the European community because the country is viewed as a gateway to the EU – almost 95 percent of Europe’s illegal immigrants enter via Greece.

More than 60,000 people have been stopped in the streets since the operation began in August last year. The US State Department has updated its travel advisory to warn tourists of the potential harassment.

[Photo Credit: Flickr user George Laoutaris]

Costa Concordia, A Year Later

by Chris Owen on

Costa Concordia sailed aground off the coast of Italy one year ago this Sunday. Today, the ship sits off the coast of Italy where it ran aground on Friday, January 13, 2012, taking the lives of 32 passengers in the process. Ongoing work is underway to remove the grounded ship. Also ongoing is a renewed focus on safety that exceeds previous efforts, covers all major cruise lines and aims to convince many travelers that cruise travel is safe.

Those on board the Costa Concordia at the time initially said it was “like being on the Titanic.” The loss of life may not have been as great but parallels drawn between the Titanic and Concordia were undeniable.

Passengers in the wrong place at the wrong time were left without life jackets. Confusion about what to do and where to go reined over already-in-place safety procedures. Over-confident ship owners were forced to take another look at how they go about their business.

In the aftermath came rules requiring mandatory safety drills before ships leave port, including mandates that each ship carry extra life jackets and that crews practice loading lifeboats with people. New rules also call for cruise lines to file a voyage plan showing exactly where ships are going, much like a pilot’s flight plan.

%Gallery-175870%

Still, questions remain about the role ship’s Captain Francesco Schettino had in the event. Also of concern: progress on the removal of Costa Concordia from the coast of Italy and enduring environmental risks to marine life.

Costa Cruises, along with its salvage company, has launched a website with detailed information, plans and images relating to the Costa Concordia wreck-removal project. See more on this extensive engineering task via this video:


A ceremony is set for the island of Giglio on Sunday where sirens will go off at 9:42 p.m, marking the one-year anniversary of the Costa Concordia grounding.

[Photo Credit- Flickr User EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection]

Galley Gossip: Can Passengers View Pornography on the Airplane?

by Heather Poole on
Photo courtesy: Bekathwia

From time to time I get questions from readers who want to know what the rules are regarding viewing pornography in flight now that Wi-Fi is available on board most airplanes. Thankfully, it hasn’t been much of an issue (knock on wood). But planes are crowded, personal space barely exits, and when passengers do things they shouldn’t, well, they usually get caught.

Last week on a flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale, a coworker had to ask a 10-year-old boy to turn off the erotica and to fasten his seatbelt. On either side of him sat his younger brother and sister. Across the aisle were his parents who had no idea what was going on until we informed them why he may have been holding the computer screen so close to his face. On a different flight another passenger was caught reading a Playboy Magazine. Next to him sat his young son. What gave this man away was the opened centerfold he was eyeing up and down. When a flight attendant politely asked him to put it away, he yelled at her for embarrassing him.

How common is it to see someone watching something rather risqué on a laptop, iPad, tablet or even the in-flight entertainment system in the air? I can only think of a few instances I’ve seen something that might raise a few eyebrows. When this happens, I’ll gently inform the passenger that there are children on board and remind them that other passengers seated nearby might find what they’re viewing distasteful. Nine times out of ten they’ll either fast forward through the scene or turn it off – end of story.

Do passengers ever complain about the content of something that a different passenger is watching? I’ve never had anyone rat someone out for watching pornography in flight. But I do get a lot of complaints about kids watching movies or playing video games that are too loud. Most parents forget to bring headphones for their little ones. I always hate having to tell a nice family to turn it down, but rules are rules and they apply to everyone, even those under 2 feet tall.

Is there a firm policy on how to handle passengers who are watching adult content openly? Pornography is not allowed on the airplane. If a flight attendant does come across it, we’ll discreetly ask the passenger to put it away. If that doesn’t work, we might issue a written warning. The warning informs the passenger what will happen if they choose not to comply. Refusing to obey crew instruction is a federal offense.

Hotel News We Noted: January 11, 2013

by McLean Robbins on

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Hotel News We Noted,” where we round up the week’s best, most interesting and just downright odd news of note in the hospitality world. Have a tip? Send us a note or leave a comment below.

This week’s hotel news focuses heavily on the new – perhaps appropriate as we ring in a new year. We can’t help but get a bit of wanderlust as we explore these new properties, ranging from boho chic in Jamaica to marvelously modern in Oslo, plus a bit of news for your perusal.

Hotel (Re)Opening of Note: Miami’s Sense Beach House
There’s no doubt, Miami is hot in the hotel world for 2013, and when another new property opens, we’re always eager to bring you news. We “sense” this property will be more our speed than many other South Beach picks. The three-story, 18-room hotel is decorated and designed to mimic a luxe vacation home, complete with “Front Porch” bar, a dining room restaurant with farm-to-table fare, a game room with foosball and ping pong, and a rooftop pool and lounge. The rustic yet chic decor (seen above), with its reclaimed woods and warm colors, mimics a cozy hideaway more than South Beach glam, but that’s just fine with us. At $300 a night, it’s not overly pricey either.

Design Star: The Thief Strikes Oslo
Oslo’s first waterfront hotel has “stolen” the show since its Jan. 9 opening. The Thief Hotel, part of Design Hotels Group, is named after a tiny islet, Tjuvholmen, in Olso where criminals were brought to trial, nicknamed Thief Island. Today, the up-and-coming neighborhood, just a short boat ride away from the city proper, features many businesses and cultural activities. The hotel itself is a tribute to this neighborhood’s rising popularity (the hotel is next to the brand new Museum of Modern Art), with original artwork from an in-house curator, mod furnishings, and an exterior design by architect Renzo Piano. Rates begin from about $375.

Get Glam In Jamaica: The Geejam Collection’s Castle Is Coming
Jamaica has long been a favorite of jetsetters and budget beach seekers alike. Now Port Antonio has another reason to visit with the debut of the Geejam Collection. The first two projects to debut are the oceanfront 13-villa Trident Hotel and the landmark Trident Castle that has been converted into a luxury eight-room hotel, (opening March 15, 2013). The third is the Blue Lagoon Restaurant & Villas, set to open later in the year. Expect Apple TVs, villas with steam rooms and wet bars, a screening room and art gallery, yoga deck, a supper club with red 1917 Steinway piano, and rare cognacs and Cuban rums at the bar. Spring break for adults, anyone? Studio villas start from $750 in high season, castle rates from a reasonable $275.

Haute Hotel Of the Week (Celeb Spotting, Anyone?): The Beverly Hills Hilton
Anyone watching the Golden Globes this weekend? We sure are. Hollywood’s elite will descend on this ultra-famous Hilton for one of the biggest awards events of the season. The Los Angeles Times has a great roundup on the party scene – perfect for anyone wanting to camp out in a hotel lobby for some celeb spotting.

Psst – we’ll dedicate some of next week’s column to hotels where you can celeb spot for the other coast’s big weekend, the 57th presidential inauguration.