Think Before You Click

by Dave Luna on

We all make trivial typing mistakes, but for one German tourist, a wrong letter resulted in an 8,000 mile trek in the wrong direction. Tobi Gutt wanted to book a flight online to Sydney, Australia, but he actually ordered a ticket to Sidney, Montana. He didn’t realize his mistake until he found himself meeting a connecting flight to the 5,000 person town in Billings, Montana. Gutt waited three days in Billings before he received 600 Euros (about $790) from friends and family to purchase a fare for the right continent.

I’ve made airline booking mistakes, but I’ve always caught them before I ended up with the wrong flight dates. Though, it’s usually been a pain — and costly — to get someone on the phone and fix my errors. So, everyone, please remember what your elementary school teacher kept telling you: “Always check your work.” (Well, maybe she was just always telling me that.)

Bloggers Wanted for Australian Road Trip

by Neil Woodburn on

Want to travel Australia and blog about it?

World Nomads is looking for 16 “Adventure Ambassadors” to travel around the Australian continent and blog about their experience.

At first, I thought this was a free trip in exchange for writing daily posts. It’s not. You have to find your own way to Australia (or be living there already) and are responsible for daily expenses, including gas. The gas is for free use of the Nomads Ambassador Van (above). World Nomads will also provide a “laptop computer, iPod & audio recording gear” to aid in the blogging process. They weren’t too clear on their website, however, whether the participants get to keep these items or not.

The idea behind the journey is that various teams of Ambassadors will drive the van around Australia for up to 6 weeks at a time before handing the keys off to the next group of travelers. Each group can plan their own itinerary and go wherever they want–providing, of course, that they blog about it.

It’s certainly not the “free” trip I imagined it was when I first read the press release, but it will provide a wonderful opportunity for aspiring travel bloggers to ply their craft and receive some great exposure while doing so. And hey, even if you’re paying for most of it, you’ll still be traveling Australia for six weeks in a van–which certainly won’t suck!

Emirates Airlines to Allow Cell Phone Talk on Flights

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here is a story that leaves me middle of the road. As much as I enjoy my own cell phone bicker-babble to my home girl Becky about last night’s victory in Taboo over cheese and wine I can honestly say if some stranger on the street were having a similar chat with their loved ones for an extended period of time in my presence I’d probably get a little annoyed. Since cell phones have become an extension of man’s ear time, place, and usage etiquette have been of large discussion.

Starting January 2007 Emirates Airlines will be the first carrier to allow cell phone chatter while 35,000 ft. in flight. Calls made in-flight with Emirates will fall right in line with international roaming rates which vary by mobile carrier. Australian airline, Quantas, hopes to have the technology to allow in-flight cell phone talk by early next year, but it looks like it will be a while before the U.S. follows suit. CNN also notes that 61 percent of business travelers oppose the idea of being able to use their cell phones while flying. I can certainly OVERstand that. As if jetting to and fro for your big corporate American hot-shot boss isn’t enough now they’ll have the opportunity to ring your ears out while coping with turbulence and the nasty recycled air blowing from above your head. If you’re traveling for leisure and wish to have a quick word with your friend of family member about your flight time or groceries to pick up from the store that could be just fine and dandy so long as it doesn’t last the full length of the flight. There isn’t enough cabin space if you ask me, but who am I to make up the rules?

How do you feel about in-flight cell-phone use? Should the U.S. get with it or keep away?

Plans for New Year’s Eve

by Adrienne Wilson on

Like many I am still searching for the perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve. I’ve never been huge NYE celebrating type of person so it’s no biggie if I don’t find some spectacular fireworks display, but at the same time it’s always kind of nice. Last year I stayed nestled inside my apartment and the previous year I believe I was sitting on a beach in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica wishing I were somewhere else (long story). Well the Miami Herald offers a small sampling of what’s available across the states and even as far down and out as Australia, Italy and Costa Rica. Go figure. Nothing listed for Chicago so I’ll be moving onto the next list, but for those partying domestically in Key West, NYC, ATL or even Alabama check out their notes.

Culture in Sydney

by Erik Olsen on
Sydney, Australia is probably best known for its lovely beaches, hilly parks and, the glittering harbor. But the fact is, Sydney is a city rich in culture and history. Everyone is familiar, of course, with the shell-shaped Opera House. It serves as both a beacon to shuterbug tourists, but also serves as a locus of high-brow music and events. But more than that, for the visitor who just wants to wander all over, there are museums galore in Sydney, where you can experience a thriving art scene, and take in some science and history while there. A good place to start is the lovely Art Gallery of NSW, probably the best-known museum in Sydney. They are currently featuring an exhibit called Goddess: Divine Energy that takes a look at female expressions of divine female power (Barbra Striesand?). And there is also the Museum of Contemporary Art that is worth checking out. The Australian Centre for Photography is also a good place to check on after you’ev wated giga-pixels on the Opera House. And for natual hstory buffs, don’t miss the Australian Museum and the Historic Houses Trust of NSW.

Of course, you can also just sit on the beach and read a good book with a Fosters in your hand. Not a bad alternative either.