Top five weekend travel media stories

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Here are some of the best travel stories culled from the travel sections of this past weekend’s newspapers.

1. In the Financial Times, Claire Wrathall pens a sailing exploration of northern Croatia’s Kornati islands, which take a backseat to the country’s southern Adriatic islands and port cities.

2. Seven writers weigh in on their first independent teenage trips in a Guardian travel feature. It’s amusing throughout, though the stories told by Terry Alderton and Emma Kennedy are especially funny.

3. In the Los Angeles Times, Michele Bigley recommends ten kid-friendly pit stops along Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

4. In the Winnipeg Free Press, Phil Reimer ponders the future of Antarctic cruises after the heavy-fuel ban takes effect next August. (Another great piece exploring the future of cruises among other tourism ventures was written by Doug French for the June 7 Christian Science Monitor.)

5. In the Irish Times, Ruadhán Mac Cormaic celebrates the virtues of Paris beyond the city’s six most central arondissements, sharing top-five hotel, restaurant, and activity lists.

(Photo: Flickr/Alaskan Dude)

Gadlinks for Wednesday 9.9.09

by Brenda Yun on


Now that I’ve just typed the date today, I realized what a special day it is! It happens only once a year, and the next one will be on my sister’s birthday, 10/10/10! What that means exactly I’m not sure, but this article provides a little insight. Apocalypse though? I think not.

Here is today’s installment of Gadlinks. Enjoy!

´Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks here.

New Radisson Blu opens with low rate in Dubrovnik, Croatia

by Tom Johansmeyer on

With 408 guest spaces, more than 100,000 square feet of spa facilities and stunning views of the Adriatic Sea, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Dubrovnik has become the largest and most exciting resort on the Dalmatian Coast. To celebrate its arrival, guests can stay for a starting price of €150 a night, including high-speed internet access and breakfast every day.

The Radisson Blu has 201 guestrooms with Adriatic views. Also, it has 207 apartments (with one, two and three bedrooms) with private kitchenettes. Thirteen restaurant and bar dining options ensure that guests won’t get board, even if they take nice, long breaks from the real world. International cuisine is offered at Origano, and guests can sample authentic Croatian fine dining at Tartufo.

“We are delighted to welcome such a fantastic hotel to our family,” said Kurt Ritter, President and CEO of Rezidor, which owns the Radisson Blu in Dubrovnik. “Our stylish resort portfolio is constantly growing – the current pipeline comprises more than 35 hotels in operation and under development across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

Hey, Ritter: we’re delighted, too! This new property sounds like a necessary stop for anyone with an eye on the Adriatic.

New B&B deals offer savings around the world

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The bed and breakfast community will probably put a hit out on me soon, if the comments from my last article are any indication. But, I’ll take my life into my hands and cover the latest news from BedandBreakfast.com anyway.

Under the new “Tanks for Traveling” program, BedandBreakfast.com members will be able to save some cash on their travels this year. I’m not crazy about the name of the program, but it probably resonates with the cutesy B&Bers.

B&Bs in around 40 states – not to mention the Caribbean, Canada, Italy, France and (wow!) Croatia – have found north of 150 ways to help their guests save on travel this year. The Vine Street Inn (California), for example, is kicking in a $100 gift certificate to any guest who arrives by train or bus … and they’ll pick you up at the station! Tudor Rose, in Colorado, is only asking for $1 for the third night when you pay for two, and Sabal Palm House in Lake Worth, FL is willing to give you the third night free – as long as you bring a bag of non-perishable food items for personal care products for the local pantry.

So, there are plenty of ways to save some money in these shitty challenging economic times.

Please, B&B people, have I repaid my debt?!

Bargain Europe: Camping Across The Continent

by Kraig Becker on

In these economic times we’re all looking to find ways to save a little cash without giving up our travels. Airfares are more affordable than they have been in a long time, which means that we can at least afford to get to the places we want to visit. But what happens once we get there? Are there any affordable places to stay?

Most travelers making their way across the pond to Europe tend to stay in nice hotels. Some, looking to go on the cheap, will stay in hostels along the way. But the Times Online has another suggestion, one that often goes overlooked. They recommend frugal travelers consider camping their way across the continent.

In their first article on the subject, they recommend the best place to camp in Paris. Yep, that’s right, camping in Paris itself, within sight of the Eiffel Tower, on a small river island on the Seine, at a place called Paris Camping International. The place offers a quiet escape from the sights and sounds of the City of Lights, but is just minutes from the chic cafes and art houses that Paris is famous for.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Times followed up that story with a list of the 20 coolest campsites across the rest of Europe. The list has suggestions for Portugal, Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, and more. The camp sites offer some amazing scenery, with backdrops ranging from the Swiss Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, and they are all rich in charm, but short on expense.

Looking for a bargain trip to Europe this year? Perhaps you should pack a tent when you go and take advantage of these unique places to camp.