Budget Travel's Blog

The latest travel news, vacation tips & advice, travel apps, and more

Archive: April 2008
apr 30

Unfair treatment on cruises?

A woman is suing Norwegian Cruise Line because the cruise line was reserving seats in its priority restaurants for higher-paying passengers.
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83 by Erik Torkells Cruises
apr 30

Istanbul: Where to get your sugar fix

A dessert restaurant whose 12-page menu offers mouthwatering pastries, cakes, puddings, and ice cream.
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1 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Turkey, Istanbul
apr 30

Istanbul: What the guidebooks don't tell you

A group of friends spent a week in Istanbul and found that guidebooks left them unprepared for what to expect as female travelers.
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27 by Budget Travel Turkey, Istanbul, Girlfriend Getaways
apr 30

Deals: Give back on Mother's Day

You've got just under two weeks to pull together your Mother's Day gift (M-day is May 11 this year). How about a quick-and-easy online gift card at BedandBreakfast.com?
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0 by JD Rinne Hotels
apr 29

Museums: The Sixties get their due

A new museum celebrating '60s counterculture and music is set to open this summer on the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in upstate New York.
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0 by Laura MacNeil Museums
apr 29

The TSA is changing airport security lanes

The TSA is scheduled to expand its Black Diamond security checkpoint program to Milwaukee today, making it the 13th airport so far to offer self-select lanes based on ski icons (green for beginners, blue for intermediate, and black for expert).
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29 by Amy Chen Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in, Innovations, Safety and Security
apr 29

Fuel surcharges: Disney Cruise Lines piles on

Disney Cruise Lines will charge the first two passengers in a stateroom $8 a person per day up to a maximum of $112 per person per vacation.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Cruises
apr 29

Museums: Murakami buzz in Brooklyn

In his most recent retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum, Murakami’s 90-plus-works use popular culture to investigate branding and identity...in the form of life-size transformer dolls, anime-inspired paintings, and a 10-minute cartoon episode.
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0 by Summar Ghias Museums, New York City
apr 29

Family travel: Tips from an expert

We talked with Fawzia Rasheed de Francisco, author of "The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies & Young Children" about how parents can still plan great vacations--minus the fear factor.
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4 by JD Rinne Family Travel
apr 28

Loyalty clubs: more proof why you should join

If there's one piece of advice I give more than any other, it's to join the loyalty club of any company you use. But when I recently stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago, I didn't take my own advice...
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5 by Erik Torkells Frequent Flier Miles, Hotels
apr 28

Contest: Europe wants your travel videos

Europe is sponsoring a contest for anyone who comes back from Europe with video and a story.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Questions and Opinions
apr 28

New blog on the best roadside restaurants

This weekend, road food experts Jane and Michael Stern announced that they've launched a new blog, RoadFoodDigest.com. Published experts on roadside eateries weigh in daily on the latest news, opening, and trip ideas.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink, Helpful Websites
apr 28

Airline News: Continental spurns United

Continental has decided not to merge with United. The airline's directors announced on Sunday that they felt that United's financial problem could put their company at peril. A marriage between United and US Airways now seems imminent.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 28

Airlines: Bye-bye, Eos

Eos Airlines shut down yesterday and entered bankruptcy. It was an all-business class airline that began flying its route between New York JFK and London Stansted in October 2005.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 25

What's your favorite theme park ride?

We share our top five rides, now tell us—what’s your favorite amusement park ride? (It doesn't have to be in Orlando.)
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83 by Budget Travel Amusement and Theme Parks, Pop Culture and Travel, Orlando
apr 25

This Weekend: The nation's largest garden tour

There are a few days left in Virginia’s 75th Historic Garden Week, which ends on April 27. The Garden Club of Virginia sponsors the event and says that it is "the oldest and largest statewide home and garden tour in the county."
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3 by Thomas Berger Virginia
apr 25

What's your favorite book to read on a trip?

What is the book (or audiobook, or podcast series) that you often—or always—bring with you on vacations?
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52 by Sean O'Neill Literary Travel, Questions and Opinions, Travel Gear
apr 24

Deals: Travel like Indiana Jones

In honor of the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Expedia has created 10 travel deals either based on or inspired by Indy's escapades. Trips go to locales such as India, Nepal, Jordan, and Egypt.
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5 by Budget Travel Adventure, Pop Culture and Travel, Africa, India
apr 24

See how tourism affects your state

The Power of Travel is a new website that lets you quickly look up your state or congressional district and see how much spending is done by tourists, with the estimated effect on tax revenues and job creation.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Innovations
apr 24

Fares: Come (Euro)fly to Italy, starting at $499

Discount airline Eurofly is having a sale on flights in May. Starting at $499, you can book roundtrip, nonstop flights from New York City to Rome, Naples, Bologna, Palermo, or other Italian cities.
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3 by JD Rinne Italy, Airfares & Flying, Airlines
apr 23

Has the TSA stolen from you?

One reporter argues that luggage inspectors are too often thieves. But is the threat exaggerated?
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289 by Sean O'Neill Airlines, Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
apr 23

Airfares: Book those summer flights now

Peak summer fares may jump by up to 20 percent in the near future, even before an expected merger plan between United and Continental is announced by mid-May. Book your flights now to beat the increases.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines
apr 22

Airlines: Richard Branson looks on the bright side

The billionaire is optimistic that budget travelers will be still enjoying affordable, comfortable flights in the next few years.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 21

World Expo to open soon in Zaragoza, Spain

A World Exposition in Zaragoza, Spain—scheduled to take place from June 14-Sept. 14, 2008—will focus on water and sustainability.
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5 by Steve Merrill Spain, Barcelona, Madrid, Eco-Green
apr 21

Fares: Watch out for slippery airline websites

Virgin America is selling tickets through April 25 for travel between April 26 and June 11, 2008.
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12 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
apr 18

Debate: Will budget airfares become extinct?

If governments begin to tax airplane travel because of its damage to the environment, and if oil prices continue to stay sky-high, airfares may spike dramatically.
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7 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Eco-Green
apr 18

"Should you pay more to fly?" Readers respond...

Is it time for travelers to pay higher fares so that airlines can invest in their fleets and improve quality of service?
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0 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
apr 18

Fares: Microsoft mysteriously buys Farecast

The free service helps travelers decide whether they should buy a ticket now or wait and hope that the price drops.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites
apr 18

Security: Passenger body scanners arrive in L.A. and N.Y.C.

New body scanners installed yesterday at airports in New York City and Los Angeles allow security screeners to peek under passengers' clothing to detect hidden weapons.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
apr 18

Buenos Aires: Tips from an expert

Michael Luongo, author of Frommer's Buenos Aires, answers questions about this popular city in Argentina.
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6 by Budget Travel Argentina, Ciudad de Buenos Aires
apr 18

Airlines: Flights are taking longer gate to gate

It takes longer to fly the typical airplane route today than at any other time in two decades.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 17

The Feds require better care for bumped passengers

The airlines will now typically have to pay $400 for short delays for rebooking (meaning two hours) and $800 for long delays (meaning more than four hours).
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 17

Affordable Europe: Tips from the Rough Guides

We talked with two Rough Guides writers, Natasha Foges and Andy Turner, to learn their tips on frugal vacationing in Europe.
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0 by JD Rinne Travel Gear
apr 17

China: Do-it-yourself travel

Editor Justin Bergman, who lived in China for a while, offers tips on how to travel there on your own.
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10 by Justin Bergman China
apr 16

Airlines: US Airways to charge for "choice" seats

The service is called "Choice Seat." You'll be able to select one of these seats during online check-in at an airport kiosk or on usairways.com from 24 hours and up to 90 minutes before departure.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 16

No gas tax for the summer season?

Is McCain's summer gas-tax freeze populist pandering?
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103 by Erik Torkells Eco-Green
apr 16

Video: Use Google to plan bus and train trips

If there's a public bus or light rail option on the trip you're planning, Google Maps will now suggest it. See a video with a full explanation.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Train Travel, Helpful Websites, Local and Public Transportation
apr 15

A new kind of cruise ship

Royal Caribbean's new ship is designed to have a cool interior courtyard open to the sky.
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18 by Erik Torkells Cruises, Innovations
apr 15

Airlines: Alitalia may stop flying within weeks

Sometime between now and June, Italy's largest airline may be forced to ground all of its planes due to financial mismanagement and other factors.
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58 by Sean O'Neill Italy, Airlines
apr 15

Airlines: What the Delta- Northwest merger means for you

The new airline, to be called Delta, will have a nearly 18 percent share of the domestic market, the largest share of any airline.
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9 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 14

Inspiration: Science-themed travel

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0 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink, Hotels
apr 14

Deals: Spa week discounts, through Sunday

Spas in 21 cities are offering discounted treatments this week. It's a promotional effort to attract new customers.
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1 by JD Rinne Spas and Pampering
apr 11

Disney: Eat for free in Orlando

Walt Disney World announced yesterday that the Disney Dining Plan will be offered free with select vacation packages.
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6 by Anthony Falcone Amusement and Theme Parks, Disney, Food + Drink, Florida, Orlando, Family Travel
apr 11

Should you pay more to fly?

Is it time for travelers to pay higher fares so that airlines can invest in their fleets and improve quality of service?
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75 by Kate Appleton Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Questions and Opinions
apr 11

D.C.: A new museum, dedicated to a free press

A controversial monument to the world's second-oldest profession opens today. Here's the skinny.
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2 by JD Rinne Museums, Washington, D.C.
apr 11

Airline: Frontier files for bankruptcy, but keeps flying

Frontier will keep flying for now, but we have a tip on how to hedge your bets when booking travel on this airline.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 10

How to handle upcoming cancellations

More inspections are on the way for other airlines. Here's how to be prepared...
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7 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 10

Liveblogging the AA press conference

The chief of American Airlines answers questions about the disruptions to the airlines.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 10

Save on car rentals (Tuttle's Law)

I just saved $99 on a car rental. How?
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14 by Erik Torkells Rental Cars
apr 10

Which European country was the hottest for U.S. travelers in 2007?

Spain was apparently the biggest gainer last year, with a 22 percent jump. Here's the full picture for the rest of Western Europe's most popular destinations.
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4 by Budget Travel France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
apr 10

Airlines: American scraps 900 more flights

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1 by Amy Chen Airlines
apr 09

National Parks: Money-saving tips

Here are some expert tips on national parks travel from the author of Frommer's National Parks for Kids.
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20 by Budget Travel National Parks, State Parks
apr 08

News: Flickr now allows video uploading

Today, the photo-sharing website Flickr began to offer video uploads from cameraphones, digital cameras, and videocameras.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Innovations, Travel Video
apr 08

Gear: Under-$600 laptops now perfect for travelers

New laptops costing less than $600 and featuring Microsoft Windows have became available. They offer lightweight solutions for travelers.
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10 by Sean O'Neill Travel Gear
apr 08

Blogs: Achieving total information awareness

A new website brings together about 60 leading travel blogs and puts their latest posts all on one page.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites
apr 07

Airlines: The EU gives OK for in-flight cell phone use

Cell phones are now permitted during flights within Europe, thanks to a new regulation announced today. Air France is first to offer the service...
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9 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 07

Paris: An ace food blogger shares her perfect Parisian food day

French blogger extraordinaire, Clotilde Dusoulier, took time away from her culinary adventures to talk about Paris restaurants with us.
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9 by Beth Collins Food + Drink, France, Paris
apr 07

Airlines: Why did Skybus die? And which airline's next?

The Skybus airline bankruptcy came surprisingly fast. Here are some answers to some key questions.
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10 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 04

Airline News: Weather protection for a fee

Air Canada has debuted a new service for travelers inconvenienced by delays or travel disruptions while flying in Canada or between Canada and the U.S.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 04

Reader tip on booking European discounters

Ian Chandler responded to our recent post about a new site describing the various European low-cost airlines, and we wanted to make sure you saw his tip.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
apr 04

Survey: Families traveling with grandparents

About 44 percent of families take at least one trip a year with their grandparents, according to a new survey.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Family Travel
apr 03

Airlines: ATA closes up shop

Ticketholders can learn how to receive a partial refund by visiting ata.com for instructions.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 02

I hate Las Vegas

As the editor of a travel magazine I’m not supposed to hate any place, or so I’ve always assumed
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196 by Erik Torkells Questions and Opinions
apr 02

Airlines: A fresh seat design from Delta

Delta has announced plans for a revolutionary new seat design to be used on its international Boeing 777 and 767 fleet, beginning in 2010.
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15 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 02

Security: Should pilots pack heat?

About 9,500 commercial pilots have legal permission to carry .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols in-flight.
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8 by Sean O'Neill Questions and Opinions, Safety and Security
apr 02

Freebie: Photoshop hits the Web

Adobe unveiled an easy-to-use version of its Photoshop tool online last week. We give it a test drive.
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2 by JD Rinne Travel Photography
apr 01

Baltimore: Museum wants your photos and tattoo designs

The Baltimore Museum of Art is promoting two new exhibits by inviting the public to share their own artworks for possible display in online galleries.
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1 by Danielle Lipp Museums
apr 01

Hotels: W offers free car service

Guests at all 18 W Hotels in the United States now have access to a luxury SUV that can take them to restaurants, the theater, and the airport.
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1 by Amy Chen Hotels, Rental Cars
apr 01

Airlines: Richard Branson unveils V Australia

As we anticipated in an earlier blog post, a new airline under the Virgin brand will be launching in December.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
apr 01

Is JetBlue getting cagey with prices?

Just how much does extra legroom cost? Maybe we'll never know.
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0 by Erik Torkells Airlines
apr 01

Airlines: AA lets you pay as you go

Fly the friendly skies without debt—American Airlines has introduced an option to pay through your checking or savings account when buying tickets online.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines