TripCart - the best place on the web to find things to do in the United States. Presents a religiously updated blog full of advice and tips for trip planning
While half of the United States is buried in snow, Southwest airlines has decided to help out TripCart and cheer up the freezing citizens of the east coast by kicking off Beach Season. They even went to the trouble of painting a plane that will inspire people to plan their beach vacation on TripCart.
You should not have trouble spotting this plane, pictured above but for the die-hard aviation nuts out there, the plane can be identified by the FAA Registration number on the tail of the 737-7H4 model, which is:
N922WN
Here are some popular beach destinations that Southwest flies to:
We figured that if a website was serious enough to recommend TripCart,
they probably have other good links, so we decided to share them with
our readers.
Mashable
has written about us in the past, now they put us on a list of 100+
More Ways to Organize Your Life. Personally, we feel traveling is more exciting then organizing, but if you are going on a trip - a little organization can certainly help.
Thrillist gave us a real compliment by describing us as having an obsessive, type-A and a father figure type persona. We accept the compliment and agree that's what you need to plan a trip. And, yes, we are a group of obsessive developers and managers. Asylum concurs and has a few hints of their own.
Smart Honeymoon seems to have a different view of TripCart. I guess they have a different audience.
Finally, for the Google mashup crowd - Google Maps Mania likes us, too.
Our management had decided that our site should include "good original content on the most important ski resorts in the States". In our meetings we tried to figure out what does it mean "The most important", and came to the understanding that for us (being a website) it means the one and only Google would be the judge. It came to me, that in many ways Google is "The Lord" of the internet. It decides which site would flourish and which would be forgotten. It has a set of 10 commandments of what is considered "Positive White Karma" / "Kosher" ways to promote your site in terms of SEO and on the other hand the classification of "Black hat SEO magicians". It has its secret knowledge and many seekers and followers who perform various kinds of meditations and prayers in order to collect hints on that knowledge, and predict their future. And of course the gurus and priests...
What is wrong with us sometimes? Maybe you should ask Leigh Robbins, she's a certified biggot, racist, xenophobe and an ass. Robbins was on a plane that was getting ready to leave San Diego for Chicago when she heard several men on the plane speaking in Arabic (we suppose it was with the help of 24 that she was able to discern what language they were speaking). After she observed one of the Iraqi passengers using the bathroom, she said that he came out and "looked so mean" that she felt compelled to gather up her two little racists-in-training and get off the plane quick. While the American Airlines crew complied with her request it forced them to miss the 11:30pm curfew for take-offs and the flight was delayed until the following morning. It turns out the Iraqis on board are hired by a contractor working for the U.S. Military, they are American citizens who fled Saddam's regime in 1991. Robbins defended her blatant racism and ignorance saying "If people want to put me down, that's their right." We think she should be banned from ever flying again.
Paper tickets will soon be a thing of the past. So get ready to tell your grandkids about when you use to have to provide a paper voucher in order to get on a plane. In less than a year the entire airline industry will be going high-tech and get rid of paper tickets all together. E-tickets will save airlines an astounding $9 per ticket (which we doubt they'll pass on to you) and better yet, it'll save 50,000 defenseless trees from losing their lives just so you can travel. Can you feel your carbon footprint getting smaller?
Fresh from The Consumerist is another story of aviation travel woe. A passenger wrote into say that on a recent flight that went through Sacramento, the TSA dutifully confiscated a Hunts Pudding Snack but became so fixated on its sugary goodness that they neglected to notice the 4" Swiss Army knife that was also in the bag, here's the scoop-
I was passing through Sacto airport security checkpoint. I sent my
carry-on backpack through the Xray machine. The operator found
something, and raised her hand for assistance. Another TSA person came
over and pulled my bag out of the machine and commenced with a hand
search. Inside he found a package of unopened Hunts Pudding Snacks in
my lunch. He confiscated the pudding "it's a liquid" and sent me on my
way. Absurd, but forgettable. However later in the day I had a layover,
and was going through my backpack looking for a pen and came across my
Swiss Army Knife with a 4" locking blade. I had been camping and had
inadvertently left it in my backpack. I was stunned that the moron TSA
agent had confiscated my pudding, but missed my knife. I am left
wondering if the X-ray person ordered the hand search because she saw
my knife on the xray, but the hand searcher got thrown off his game by
the delicious, and apparently dangerous pudding. If so the lack of
communication between the Xrayer and hand searcher indicates a serious
weak spot in their protocol. After I discovered the knife, I took a
cell phone shot of it in the airport bathroom, and a shot of it as I
was LEAVING the secure "sterile" area of the airport.
According to Hotwire, the place to be this Labor Day weekend will be Chi-town. This is the second year in a row that the Windy City has been the country's favorite place to vacation before wrapping up the summer. Here's the full list of the top 10 with last year's ranking in parenthesis:
Chicago (1)
New York City (18)
Atlanta (4)
St. Louis (12)
Boston (6)
San Francisco (5)
New Orleans (21)
Las Vegas (13)
San Diego (3)
Norfolk-Virginia Beach (34)
It sure is nice to see that New Orleans is making a comeback.
We were looking over all of those great blogs on the T-List the other day and realized that the list could use a little re-organization. There were a few repeats, a few dead sites, and a few sneaky marketers who had managed to get their name on the list. So now we present you with a new version of the T-List separated by language and category to make it easier to digest. Please add your own additions and pass it along. Special thanks to Mathieu at radaron for starting this whole thing back in March.
The T-List was started a while back as a way to aggregate all of the travel blogs out there (and to help boost their presence). This list is probably the best run-down you will find for travel related blogs, some of these focus on the travel industry, others on hotels, and still others are just blogs about traveling in general. This should keep you busy for a few days-
The Big Apple just dropped the big sum of a billion bucks for 3500 bus stations, 330 news stands (shown in the picture above), and 20 public toilets that will soon be popping up all over the city. The new street candy was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw Architects and is composed of 95% recyclable materials. We like the look (TreeHugger has shots of the other installations) but we would have preferred something that looked a little more old school.
We've been waiting ages to annoy the hell out of you by talking incessantly through a whole flight as loud as possible on our cell phones. But as of yet, it still hasn't come to pass and there are 3 reasons why: the airlines, the cell phone companies and the government. Officially cell phones are banned for two main reasons; because they could mess with the planes' electronics or because they could mess with cell towers on the ground. Even though the potential problems stemming from cell phones could be tested the FAA and FCC have refused to come up with any definitive answers over the past 20 years.
Airlines want the ban because they don't want to deal with aggravated flyers who are tired of hearing phones ring or loud conversations. They also don't want passengers to be able to communicate with the ground in case of a terror attack or plane crash.
Cell phone carriers want the ban so they don't have to upgrade their towers to communicate more effectively with flyers in the air.
The Man refuses to allow cell phone use on planes out of incompetence and a lack of accountability - no official from the FAA or the FCC wants to be the guy who said cell phones were OK and then have a plane go down.
In the end, all of this posturing is absurd - about 2 million people a day fly in the U.S., if just 1 in 1000 people forget to turn off their cell phones then there are still over 2000 instances everyday of cell phones being on during flights and yet no crash has ever been determined to have been caused by a wayward cell phone. The ban will most likely stay in place for the foreseeable future as it cheaper and more convenient for all parties involved, save the passengers.
Most major airlines flew last month with more seats filled than in any previous March. Gone are the days of the empty middle seat. American, Delta, Continental, United, US Airways and Northwest all flew at over 80% occupancy, meaning that virtually every popular flight was completely full. The March numbers were due partly to Spring Breakers and bad weather that forced airlines to consolidate passengers who were on cancelled flights.
A Northwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit was canceled on Saturday after the captain was overheard swearing on his cell phone in the bathroom as passengers boarded the plane. Here's the official report from Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman-
He used what was described to me as rude language, at some point during the boarding process, he left the cockpit,
went into the front lavatory, locked the door and continued his
conversation. Passengers who were boarding the aircraft could hear his end of the conversation through the lavatory door. When the captain emerged from the bathroom, a passenger confronted
him about his behavior, reportedly prompting more cursing by the pilot
of the B757 aircraft.
The police determined that there was no need for a sobriety test and Northwest compensated the passengers, however, they were unable to determine why the pilot was so angry with his wife.
The Consumerist continues to deliver great advice for those of us flying the friendly skies. Their newest tidbit involves printing out a copy of the airline's "Rule 240," - My Travel Rights, explains-
Before airline deregulation in 1978, Rule 240 was literally a federal
requirement. Nowadays, it's a term describing what individual airlines
will do for late or stranded passengers. In fact, the major airlines
have filed "conditions of carriage" with the U.S. Department of
Transporatation (DOT) guaranteeing their respective Rule 240s.
My Travel Rights (what is there not a blog about these days?) also advises to brush up on the particular airline's Rule 240 before approaching an agent with a printed-out copy. You could be eligible for meal vouchers, ticket vouchers, hotel rooms and possibly a refund. A list of links to Rule 240 for most major American airlines can be found at the end of the above post.
Looking for an interesting way to figure out where to eat lunch? This silly little website, takes data from Yahoo Local and throws it on to a roulette wheel. Type in a zip code and some other info (like "Chinese" or "Cheap"), give the wheel a spin, and it'll find somewhere different for you to eat. Let us know if it works on mobiles.
Homeland Security and the TSA have been driving everyone nuts for months now over their ban of liquids on planes. In an effort to make everyone safer they have made it much more difficult and frustrating to fly and according to a report last month authorities at the denver International Airport, "failed to find liquid explosives packed in carry-on luggage and also
improvised explosive devices, or IED's, worn by undercover agents." Apparently we're all being hassled incessantly with no real results except we're all a few nail clippers lighter. According to a study by the government's General Accounting Office, 90 percent of guns and explosives federal agents tried to smuggle on to a plane got through at 15 different airports (they did not report the number of corkscrews that slipped through). Understandably, the TSA would prefer things like this to go unnoticed, "The last thing TSA wants to do is look bad in front of congress and in
front of the public, so rather than fix the problem, they'd rather just
keep them quiet." What a shame that all this inconvenience is doing nothing to make us safer.
Last week, a United Airlines flight attendant who was in uniform but wasn't part of the crew flew from Atlanta to Dulles International Airport while packing a loaded weapon. No explanation was given as to why the handgun was brought on the plane and an official from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said:
"It seems it was an inadvertent incident, from her description." If we had a nickel for every time we almost brought our .357 on a plane. It's still not clear just how Janet Tucker got the gun on the plane (airline employees are supposed to go through the same screening process as passengers) but she has since been arrested.
The next time you're headed to the beach you won't need to slip that flask in your back pocket, you can walk on it instead. Just fill up your flip-flops and hit the sand. Unfortunately, we can't find any details on just how much Malibu will fit between your soles.
Skycaps are having a hard time these days - the TSA isn't making their lives any easier and lots of folks assume that the $2 curb-side check-in fee goes in their pocket (it doesn't). As a result the skycaps in Miami have apparently become more and more pushy about getting the gratuity they believe they deserve-
I checked one bag with him, and, after giving him $2 plus $1 tip, he
said my tip wasn't enough. I thought he was joking. He said $2 went to
American Airlines, and he needed more than a dollar tip per bag to make
a living. I said I thought the gratuity was up to my discretion. He
said not if I wanted my bag intact when it arrived in Chicago - and
suggested I take my bag inside if I didn't give him a better tip.
I
was stunned and asked the skycap next to him if harassing customers for
tips was part of American's policy. He said yes, with a smug look. I
said I was going inside to talk to customer service. As I walked away
with my baggage-claim number, he said he couldn't guarantee my bag
would arrive safely in Chicago.
I boarded the plane and picked up my suitcase in Chicago without a
problem. But, when I got home, I found bags of messy garbage in my
luggage! I had to dry-clean some clothing and am considering throwing
away the suitcase. (from the Daily Southtown)
So, if you're not willing to shell out $5 or more to make the skycap feel properly rewarded you're probably better off just taking your bags inside yourself.
Everybody likes airbags, you can throw your trash in them, you can puke in them, some of them you can even use to keep score while you play gin-rummy. If you're into air bags, and want to see some examples of airlines from around the world, head over to bagophily.com - they have a gallery of air sickness bags from U.S. and international carriers, including a section of their personal favorites.
In today’s fast paced corporate market, every minute counts and often can be the
difference between success and failure. No longer is it feasible or convenient
to take time out for toilet breaks, especially in taxis, subways or rail systems
where facilities aren’t always provided. Now, for the GM who has to take a BM,
there is the Gotta Go Briefcase. A full functioning briefcasethat
also doubles as a portable lavatory.
Unfortunately, no tips are provided about where one would actually go about utilizing the device nor do they provide tips on how to block out the mental image of your poo swimming around in your briefcase all day long.
Virginia's new tourism site is something worth checking out. In an effort to highlight the state's Heritage Music Trail they've developed a site that uses "sing back" technology to let you hear a bluegrass song of your invention based on a few elements you supply. Think of it as a kind of redneck AdLibs where you pick your name, occupation, hobby, etc. You can then email your backwater music gem or send it to someone's cell phone. What a great way to get the word out that Virginia is for lovers.
HotelChatter has just come out with their definitive list of the geekiest hotels in the world, and of their top 6, three of them are in the US. Leading the list is the Tribeca Grand whose Room 06 and Room 16 have iStudios decked out with all kinds of Apple goodness. #2 on the list is Boston's Hotel @ MIT, perks include free wifi, chemistry cartoons in the bathrooms and MIT robots in the lobby. The Wynn hotel in Las Vegas came in at number 6 on their list because of the hi-def TVs in every room , remote-controlled lighting, and hotel-wide VOIP. All in all, a pretty lame list.
If the prices for renting a car ever seemed arbitrary to you the reason is probably because they are. Over at The Consumerist, there's a great piece by a former manager of Enterprise with 9 tips to help you get the cheapest rental car possible. If you don't have the time to plow though the whole article, we'll supply you with the highlights-
There aren't any set prices. Prices are completely fluid based on the number of cars on the lot, when the lot is full you can get great deals.
Extra rental insurance is totally unnecessary. That being said, agents will generally knock down the daily rate of your car if you're willing to pay for the extra insurance.
Most Enterprise business comes from insurance rentals. If ready to lie and say you're renting a car as a replacement you can sometimes knock as much as 50% off the price.
Cars are cheaper on the weekends at any Enterprise neighborhood branch. If you're looking to get a good deal on the weekend stay away from the airport and head to the city lots that are full of cars.
Call on Friday right before 2pm for the best deal. Agents love renting cars before two in the afternoon because then it's not counted on the branch's books for the day.
Enterprise managers really, really want a 5 out of 5 rating on customer service. Apparently managers are so keen to get a 5 out of 5 rating from customers that they will happily wave the fees for such things as forgetting to fill up the tank.
Your price depends on the agent's mood. Agents hate having to schlep customers from their house and you'll get a better rate if you walk in rather than making them come get you.
"None of this prepares you for the creepiest hallways in hoteldom. The
universal reaction is: The Adams Family or the Munsters. They're so
wide you could drive an armoured personnel carrier down the middle of
them. The ceilings are low. The lighting is dim (as if they'd turned
the original gas fixtures into sconces) and the paint color looks as if
it was originally way-off white, then subjected to 30 years of nicotine
stain."
Starbucks is having it's second annual Coffee Break. If you need some get up and go juice on your travels you'll be able to swing by and get a 12-ounce cup of joe for free between ten and twelve tomorrow. Expect to see apron-clad Starbucks Coffee Masters milling about to answer questions and educate the general public about both coffee and the coffee brewing process. We were unable to dig up an official statement from Starbucks but this rumor seems legit.
If you're in Arizona anytime in the near future and looking to do a little spelunking you might want to check out the Kartchner Caverns (about 45 minutes southeast of Tucson). The Caverns were discovered just over thirty years ago when two college students caught a whiff of the sweet smell of bat droppings near a sinkhole and decided to explore. In all, over two-miles of trails were found and some of the rooms have ceilings up to a hundred feet high. For more info check out this great article from the Seattle Times.
