Clearspace Server Syndication Feed

Flight Tracking Made Easier

Jill.Robinson — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:55:13 GMT

Whether you’re coming home from a holiday vacation, flying in bad weather or just taking a quick business trip, it’s always more helpful to know if your flight is on time. Google makes it easier to do that: Just type your airline and flight number in the search box (example: alaska flight 220). You’ll get the route, departure and arrival times, and estimated departure and arrival times for connecting flights.

This tracking feature makes it much quicker to get your flight info (especially if you have a Google search box in your browser), and if you have friends coming into town on different airlines—it’s far better than going to each airline’s Web site to check flight status. I’m sold.

Memorable Public Spaces

Jill.Robinson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:04:48 GMT

Some of the things I remember most about my journeys are the open, public spaces in many places in the world. I’ve always been a big fan of parks (thanks to growing up near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park), and I generally search them out when on vacation. But parks aren’t the only cool public places.

The Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit organization that works with people to “create and sustain public places that build communities,” has published a list of 60 of the world’s greatest public spaces. Among them are:

Covent Garden in London
The French Quarter in New Orleans
Grand Central Station in New York City
The Spanish Steps in Rome
The Ridge in India
The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali.

According to the Project’s Web site, these public spaces are “the places we remember most vividly, the places where serendipitous things happen, the places we tell stories about. They are decidedly local, but can also absorb a fair amount of tourism without losing the qualities that make them great.”

Leave a comment and tell us what your favorite public space is, whether or not it’s included on the Project’s list.

Long-Term Airport Parking Nightmare Solved

Jill.Robinson — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:04:32 GMT

You’re flying during the holidays to see family. On the day of your departure, you run down the list:

Tickets—check.
Toothbrush—check.
Carry-on, complete with 1-quart bag for liquids—check.
Gifts for everyone—check.

All you need to do is park, check in and get through security. As you pull up to your tried-and-true long-term parking garage, you see it: the sign that says “Lot Full.” Other lots have the same sign, and now you’re in a panic. You finally decide to suck it up and park in short-term parking and just worry about the bill when you return.

You can avoid this nightmare by using aboutairportparking.com the next time you plan to fly during peak times. Pick your airport (from a list of 107 U.S. and Canadian airports) and the time you’ll be gone, and you’ll get a list of parking lots with available space—along with their prices, distances from the airport and other services they offer. Some lots will even allow you to reserve a space in advance.

Holiday travel can be a hassle, but preparing in advance can get you through it all like a champ.

Warm Winter Getaway Special to the U.S. Virgin Islands

Jill.Robinson — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:54:07 GMT

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has extended the deadline to book its Winter Escape promotion from Dec. 15, to Dec. 31, 2008. So if you’re looking for a warm-weather escape, this deal can make it much easier for you to save.

Book your U.S. Virgin Islands vacation by Dec. 31, 2008 for travel any time between Dec. 15, 2008 and March 31, 2009 and get $300 in travelers’ checks, $50 credit on attractions, $50 credit on restaurants, a coupon book with additional savings on attractions and activities, and a free fifth night (based on a four-night minimum stay) at participating hotels.

The list of participating hotels includes the Carambola Bay Beach Resort & Spa, The Buccaneer (both on St. Croix), the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas and the Westin St. John Resort & Villas. Visit usvigetaway.com/winterescape for the complete list of hotels and further information on booking your Winter Escape.

Happier Holidays From the TSA

Jill.Robinson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:34:30 GMT

Just in time for the holidays, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has added the popular “family lanes” to every airport in the United States. Before the recent expansion, 48 airports participated in the Diamond Self-Select program, which provides lanes for families, travelers who are unfamiliar with checkpoint procedures, and travelers who must carry medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols that exceed the current 3-ounce limit.

The TSA had planned to expand the program to all airports by Nov. 20, a week before Thanksgiving, in an attempt to increase passenger security as well as convenience, according to TSA administrator Kip Hawley. “Passengers have clearly demonstrated their preference to go at their own pace.” Officers working in the dedicated family lanes will work with travelers to go through security checkpoints quickly and efficiently.

Individuals traveling with liquids, gels and aerosols within 3-1-1 limits will experience no change to their screening procedures.

Santa Fe Hotel Anniversary Deal

Jill.Robinson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:54:47 GMT

A few years ago, I spent a New Year’s getaway in Santa Fe. The dusting of snow, cool mountain air and flickering farolitos (paper lanterns) were perfect additions to the winter holiday scene.

Santa Fe’s a great winter destination, and snagging a deal makes it even better. The beautiful adobe Inn on the Alameda is celebrating its 23rd anniversary by offering guests a $23 anniversary rate. Stay for three nights in a row in any room type for select dates before Feb. 28, 2009, and pay only $23 for the third night. Set in the heart of the city, the hotel is a great location to serve as your home base as you explore the galleries of Canyon Road and the history of the old Plaza.

The special rate isn’t available to book online, so call the Inn at 888-984-2121 to reserve, or visit www.innonthealameda.com for more information about blackout dates and restrictions for the anniversary discount.

Advertising Pays for Security Equipment

Jill.Robinson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:45:03 GMT

Advertising is everywhere in airports—from billboards in parking lots to ads on jetways. Now you can add the bottom of plastic bins at security checkpoints to the list.

After a yearlong pilot program in 14 airports (including Los Angeles International Airport and Denver International Airport), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing airports to sell the bin space as a way to get new equipment at checkpoints. The agency requires that the ad revenue must be used to provide the airports with new plastic bins and metal tables for passengers to use while they load and unload their carry-on belongings for screening, as well as pay for new carts that screeners use to transport stacks of bins from place to place. The TSA saves money by not purchasing the equipment itself.

In order to get approval to sell the advertising, airports must first show the TSA how the new equipment will make security checkpoints more efficient. In the first six months of the pilot program at LAX, the TSA saved $250,000 on carts, tables and bins.

What does this mean for you? Well, besides the new advertising staring at you from the bottom of the bin (Zappos has already bought some of the ads), the additional bins and carts for screeners to transport them more quickly may just result in speeding passengers through security checkpoints. I’m all for that.

Houston’s Green Backyard

Jill.Robinson — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:19:18 GMT

A downtown parking lot in Houston, Texas, has been reborn as a 12-acre eco-centric park—Discovery Green. The parking lot hasn’t completely disappeared, but has been moved underground, so that Houston’s now only major downtown park can take center stage.

Features of the $122 million park include a lake, restaurants, dog runs, open lawns, an amphitheater, a children’s playground and public art works. Solar panels power the park offices; Houstonians bring their recycling on Recycling Saturdays; and groundwater saved from the garage is recycled for irrigation.

Discovery Green has become extremely popular—it’s estimated that almost 250,000 people visited the park from its opening day last April through the end of June.

Most events in the park are free, and include green markets, concerts, athletic activities (such as yoga and tai chi), as well as workshops and story time for kids.

So add Discovery Park to your list the next time you’re in Houston and let us know what you think!

Getting a Glimpse of Guanaja

Jill.Robinson — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:32:33 GMT

I just returned from two weeks on Guanaja, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands. Aside from enjoying plenty of hammock time, great views of wildlife (spotted eagle rays, dolphins, ospreys, magnificent frigatebirds), island food, tropical sunny weather (and some spectacular evening thunderstorms), and visiting friends, I had some interesting “beyond tourist” moments that I want to share.

Anyone can have a “beyond tourist” moment on vacation, and it doesn’t even require getting out of the resort (although it’s nice to do so, in order to see how the locals live). Just spend time talking to the people who live in your destination and get to know them a little. Since I’ve been visiting Guanaja for more than 10 years and own property there, I’m regularly doing things like grocery shopping for myself, buying plants from the local nurseryman and chatting up locals in the bank line.

Here’s a glimpse into the island of Guanaja that the guidebooks don’t cover:

• While I was shopping in Casa Sikaffy, one of the island’s largest grocery stores (that’s smaller than your average 7-Eleven), the lights suddenly went out. First thought: power outage. Nope. The owner’s sister walked up to me and explained, “There’s a funeral, and the body just passed in the street outside, so we turned the lights out for respect.” The street that she was referring to? A pedestrian walkway that’s only 7-feet wide.

• Guanaja’s a relatively small island with limited infrastructure. Plastic recycling is something it hasn’t been able to tackle in a realistic way, until now. An ex-pat friend, Mike, showed me the island’s new “bottle crusher,” which takes piles of plastic bottles and presses them into large squares—ready to transport to the mainland for recycling. It’s a great way to get trash off the streets and beaches, and money into the pockets of islanders.

• I had the chance to talk with a gentleman from one of Guanaja’s families that date from English settlement times, in the early 1800s. Mr. Borden is 80, and he told me about all the property throughout the island that he’s owned over the years. While it’s certainly an overstatement to say that he’s owned the entire island, his property holdings have covered a large amount of territory. It was a pleasure to hear about what Guanaja was like in the “old days” when there were few people, no electricity and the fishing “industry” consisted only of families fishing for their dinner.

Day of the Dead Festivities

Jill.Robinson — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:27:44 GMT

If you’re looking for a Mexican vacation that puts you closer to the culture than you can get by lazing on the beach, consider going to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The country’s biggest holiday celebrates the memories of departed family and friends, while allowing the living to have a festive time. Here are five great Day of the Dead destinations in Mexico to check out:

Pátzcuaro and Janítzio (state of Michoacán)

A candlelit boat procession journeys from the lakeside town of Pátzcuaro to the island of Janítzio. While both locations pulse with activity, the island’s cemetery is the focus of late-night gatherings. Read our Flowers for the Dead article about the Day of the Dead in this area.

Mixquic (Distrito Federal)

A small town on the outskirts of Mexico City so well known for its Day of the Dead celebrations, it’s often referred to as the “City of the Dead.”

Oaxaca City (state of Oaxaca)

So many people flock to Oaxaca’s cemeteries that travel packages are created just for the holiday. Unique to Oaxaca’s festivities is the temporary creation of colored sand carpets, sculpted in 3-D.

Mérida (state of Yucatán)

The White City celebrations include the Mayan banquet of the dead, Hanal Pixan (“soul food”). Large tamales baked in an underground pit are tasty features on the menu.

Chiapa de Corzo (state of Chiapas)

Marimba and mariachi bands play beloved tunes of the dead at the local cemetery of this small colonial town. Firecrackers announce the departure of souls each year.