AOL Travel Ideas

Hottest Destinations for 2011

Jordan Simon — 2011-01-10T22:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Best Of

What makes a destination the world's next "it" place to visit? Is it trendy new hotels, increased air access, exciting events -- or economy? Come jet away with us to our picks for 2011's hottest spots.

1. New York, New York

A perennial Top Ten header, the Big Apple more than ever provides an orchard of opportunities to pluck for culture vultures, fashion fascists, and curiosity seekers alike. Continuing the 2010 hotel boom that increased room capacity nearly 20 percent, upcoming trendsetters include Alofts in Harlem and Brooklyn and a Mondrian. New York will also witness several key anniversaries in 2011. The Statue of Liberty turns 125, the New York Public Library books its centennial, Carnegie Hall chimes in with galas for its 120th birthday, and the commemorative National September 11 Memorial, with reflecting pools placed above the footprints of the World Trade Center, should debut in time for the tenth anniversary of the tragic attacks. And there are the evergreen favorites as well, from Times Square's mega-neon to the top of the Empire State Building.
Stay: New York offers everything from boho to Beaux Arts, and practically invented boutique chic. The Ace is the ultimate in sleek-not-slick vintage vibe plus incredible value.

Harshil.Shah, flickr

2. London

Everyone's abuzz over the royal nuptials in April, which (along with anticipation for the 2012 Olympics) will make London swing as it did in the 60s. Fittingly, a Four Seasons at Park Lane and a W will debut this year. Dorchester's glam new 45 Park Lane will serve up Wolfgang Puck's first European venture, Cut, while another celeb chef, England's own Heston Blumenthal (who has three Michelin stars) opens his first London eatery at the Mandarin Oriental. Fabled architecture, fab museums, and world-renowned theater (including Andrew Lloyd Webber's eagerly anticipated take on "The Wizard of Oz") will provide oohs and ahhs aplenty.
Stay: Right in London's arts and nightlife hub, the Covent Garden Hotel offers rooms that resemble the love children of Laura Ashley and Philippe Starck, with quirky dressmaker's dummies alongside antique wardrobes.

3. Doha, Qatar

Dubai gets the press, but Doha boasts better beaches, restaurants, and even nightlife without over-the-top, off-putting opulence. Nearly 50 new hotels added 10,000 rooms in the past four years; the latest will be the ritzy Shangri-La Doha. The Corniche is a waterfront promenade where rollerbladers (and jet skiers) zoom past a surreal skyline of traditional minarets and twisting postmodern spires, including the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art. And The Pearl, encompassing at least 13 astonishing artificial islands is slowly opening with a planned 154 square miles of sheer indulgence of deluxe residences, hotels, dining (Gordon Ramsay's Maze) and shopping (retail already ranges from McCartney to McQueen) .
Stay: The Four Seasons Doha has post-modern domes that gleam in the desert sun, plus a private beach, a sybaritic spa, and several sexy lounges and restaurants.

Cirtual BCM-Bobb & Company Marketing, flickr

4. St. Kitts & Nevis

Sister islands St. Kitts and Nevis are best known for lush rainforests, a rich history, and exquisite renovated plantations. St. Kitts, the larger of the two islands, has great diving and hiking, plus plentiful value lodging. The Frigate Bay strip, straddling St. Kitts' narrowest point with both Caribbean and Atlantic frontage, is dotted with reasonably priced hotels (including fantastic family-friendly condos) and beach bars that practically stop traffic weekend nights as locals "lime" (hang out). Major Kittitian developments, including a Park Hyatt and Tom Fazio golf course, are scheduled to open by 2012, so go before it's "discovered."
Stay: The restored plantation inns all have fanatic followings. Ottley's on St. Kitts and the Hermitage on Nevis benefit from having the warm, witty owners onsite. The former is quietly luxurious, the latter a treasure trove of vernacular architecture.

5. Atlanta, Georgia

Southwest may take Atlanta by Sherman-esque storm once its merger with AirTran closes this spring, with fierce fare wars raging through 2011. The hotel scene is booming as well: The Kimpton Palomar and a W (the city's fourth) are being built while the Hyatt Regency receives a $60 million facelift and the city's second Hotel Indigo is scheduled to open in the historic Carnegie building. A Legoland Discovery Center, Pirate Museum, and 1.3 million-gallon dolphin exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium are slated to open this year. And that's on top of the city's other attractions, from the World of Coca-Cola to a top-notch zoo to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. When night falls you can party in cutting-edgier Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands or check out the sensational dining and nightlife scenes in Midtown.
Stay: Stonehurst Place, an 1896 Arts & Crafts mansion, has a riveting modern art collection (Warhol, Chihuly, Nan Goldin) plus modern eco-friendly touches like rainwater harvesting, solar power, and biodegradable bath products.

jurvetson, flickr

6. Tallinn, Estonia

This lively city, known for one of the world's most beautifully preserved medieval old towns, celebrates both its designation as a 2011 European Cultural Capital and the 20th anniversary of overthrowing Communist rule. The city will celebrate with one big virtual rave all year, with festivals, street concerts, parades, and more eclectic events scheduled. And that's on top of bargain shopping, buzzing nightlife, and that exquisite Old Lower Town with stunning red-roof castles, metal-tipped church spires and towers. Estonia officially switched to the Euro January 1, making life easier for hopping around the Continent.
Stay: The intimate, refined Savoy Boutique Hotel occupies an 1890 police station in the heart of the old town, featuring Art Deco styling, hand-plastered walls and marble bathrooms, as well as the top-rated MEKK restaurant.

7. Curacao

The island became a self-autonomous region within the Netherlands in October 2010, and its citizens will be celebrating all year. Not that they shouldn't celebrate every year. Curacao offers exceptional diving, charming plantations (landhuizen), and eco-centric activities in its cunucu (countryside). The truly stunning capital of Willemstad -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is highlighted by bright pastel-hued gingerbread townhouses out of a fairytale. The hotels, including a new Hyatt Regency, offer a nice medium between neighbor island Aruba's mega-development and Bonaire's casual dive accommodations. Curacao is also below the hurricane belt, balmy year-round, and only two and half hours from Miami.
Stay: Kura Hulanda, near Willemstad's harbor, is made up of restored 18th-century townhouses along pebbled alleys radiating from a central courtyard.

Blue Lagoon in Iceland; Wikimedia Commons

8. Iceland

Tourism in Iceland is expected to geyser 20-percent this year, thanks to the cool nightlife, warm people and hot springs. And you can't miss the famous Blue Lagoon or Landmannalaugar's lunarscape lavafields. While restaurants remain ridiculously pricey (due to importing costs), Iceland is affordable and more accessible than ever thanks to the plummeting exchange rate. This summer Delta becomes the first US carrier to fly nonstop, while low-cost Iceland Express is slated to launch service from New York, connecting with Boston and Chicago. Icelandair will team with Alaska Airlines on mileage-earning codeshare flights from West Coast hubs.
Stay: Reykjavik hotels tend to be cold, grey and utilitarian. Thankfully, the centrally located Hotel Borg, while monochromatic, impresses with its restored Deco flourishes and classically clean lines.

9. The Philippines

For years Thailand ruled as the paradise of unspoiled, un-crowded beaches. But the Philippines has dethroned it. The country's 7,107 idyllic islands offer pyrotechnic diving and fascinating history and culture including 16th-century Sino-Spanish Baroque churches and remarkably engineered 2,000-year-old rice terraces. From the sultry nightlife in the pulsating capital of Manila to Marinduque's flower dances, the country is ablaze with local color and diverse ethnic customs. Cheap, plentiful ferries make island hopping to the archipelago with names from Albay to Zambales. And though luxury resorts have begun their inevitable onslaught (Raffles Makati opens next year), it's still cheap.
Stay: Boracay, the Filipino Phuket, remains ravishing with butterflies outnumbering beachcombers. The comfy Boracay Beach Club is right across the street from the dazzling white sands.

Wikimedia Commons

10. Nicaragua

Is it too clichéd to call Nicaragua the next Costa Rica? It's got fabulous Caribbean and Pacific beaches (relatively deserted compared to its neighbors), coral reefs exploding like fireworks, emerald rainforests chattering with wildlife, and Spanish colonial towns like Granada. A whopping 17% of the country is protected as nature preserves. Any surprise it was the locale for the latest Survivor? East Coast flights, which usually connect in Miami, Houston, and Atlanta, remain affordable even during high season and TACA Airlines is increasing service on its LA-Managua route in January. This is also one of the few places in the Western Hemisphere where you can go green for less green. Cool new hotels in restored colonial buildings to horse ranches have opened, offering comfort and authentic culture for $50 to $150 per night -- in high season.
Stay: Chattering howler monkeys greet you at Aqua Nicaragua, a treetop yoga-wellness hideaway on the rugged Pacific. Expect teak rain showers, plunge pools, and fresh organic produce in the restaurant (much of it cultivated onsite).

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How to Travel for (Almost) Free

Jordan Simon — 2010-09-16T01:57:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks, Budget

phillyreconstructed, flickr

There are lots of ways to travel on the cheap: staying at a backpacker hostel, taking a gamble on a one-star motel. But what if you are looking for something really cheap? Say, free?

Reflecting the paradigm shift toward interaction through social media, sites offering free nights for travelers are now a growing segment of the global online hospitality network. The organization World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms hooks travelers up with organic farmers for overnight stays in return for help, a practice known as WWOOFing. There is also the 60-year-old organization Servas, which acts as more of a cultural exchange and encourages hosts to integrate the travelers into their daily lives. The site CouchSurfing.org, which officially launched in 2004, now offers a worldwide network of hosts with a free couch. "We consider ourselves more of a social movement than a traditional company," says co-founder Daniel Hoffer. "Our goal is to enable people to have adventures and develop friendships that they wouldn't otherwise be able to."

New Laws Against Cheap Rentals

Savvy travelers know that a great way to save money, especially in big cities, is to rent a spare bedroom or even an entire apartment from a local. And there are tons of listings on sites such as Airbnb, Crashpadder, Roomorama, and the old standby, CraigsList. But the government has different plans.

In July 2010, New York State Governor David Paterson signed controversial legislation outlawing the rental of apartments in New York State for periods of less than 30 days (the legislation goes into affect in May 2011). Maui has already enacted similar laws, as has Paris. Vocal opponents have argued that this punishes both tourists looking for budget alternatives and cash-strapped New Yorkers.

"The law will stop the abusive practice of landlords illegally renting out apartments as hotel rooms," says State Senator Liz Krueger, co-sponsor of the bill. "Because the Internet has made it easier than ever to advertise illegal hotels, most tourists have no idea they have not made reservations at legitimate hotels until they arrive at their destination."

The good news for travelers looking for cheap digs is that the ban includes exemptions when the owner/renter remains in residence (often the case with social B&Bs) or when no money changes hands. Meaning that couchsurfing is safe -- for now.

While surfers appreciate no-cost digs, most maintain that it's ultimately about experiencing the local lifestyle (the site boasts 2 million users in 230 countries). Besides connecting travelers with available couches, the site also hosts online discussion groups where you can solicit tips and swap stories and advice. "By joining, you've opened up a world, literally, of potentially deep social and cultural interaction," says John Gunther, a 60-year-old writer/consultant. Numerous organized events like picnics, potlucks, and hikes provide another forum to exchange opinions and ask questions.

Ian Krammer, a 22-year-old self-described adventurer/enthusiast calls couchsurfing "the best thing that has (ever?) happened to travel." The recent Colorado State University grad is currently hitchhiking all 50 states with just a backpack and a banjo, planning to write a book about his experiences. "I make a new friend in every town," he says. CSing provides an actual local perspective on interesting places like offbeat museums and favorites that don't make it into guidebooks.

Safety is obviously a huge consideration. Last November in Leeds, England, Moroccan national Abdelali Nachet was convicted of raping and threatening to murder a 29-year-old Hong Kong woman he'd met via Couchsurfing.org. Though apparently a fairly isolated incident, it raised legitimate concerns. That's why travelers and hosts should always analyze profiles carefully. "Couchsurfing's success has created technological growing pains," Gunther observes. "Like any online social network, [it's] vulnerable to vandalism by jokesters, marketers, misfits, and crazies." In addition to human safety arbiters, the site implements security protocols through voluntary verification (a $27 payment confirms identity through a credit card and a code sent to the mailing address), references (posted by hosts and surfers based on actual experiences), and vouching (veteran members approve those they consider reliable). This engenders trust, acting as a personal firewall. Nonetheless you should take sensible precautions.

Whether you are WWOOFing or Couchsurfing, you need to remember that you are staying in someone's home, meaning there is also the matter of etiquette. "It's selfish to visit a host strictly for a free place to stay," says Gunther. Being a rude guest who arrives late and makes a mess will elicit negative evaluations from hosts, "who by and large expect a quality interaction, some gratitude for their hospitality, and some reciprocity -- like help with cleanup chores or a meal cooked by the traveler," says Gunther.

Washing dishes is a small price for life affirming, even altering experiences. Cody Wolcott, a 25-year-old Chicagoan enthuses that within one week his adventures ranged from a hair-dying party with a Belgian girl to grilling at the beach with other travelers from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Brazil while discussing the fate of the Brazilian presidency. "You'll wonder why you ever traveled any other way," he says.

But what is it really like to sleep on a stranger's couch -- or to have someone sleep on yours? We spoke with two surfers about their experiences.

David Zetland
A native Californian, this 41-year-old water economist has hosted travelers from Uruguay to the U.K in his Berkeley home and himself has surfed Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Indonesia, Australia, and throughout North America. Though older than most couchsurfers -- 92% of the site's members are under 40 -- David doesn't consider himself atypical of the movement and believes its intergenerational appeal is growing. "There's huge variety, from partying backpackers to modern Kerouacs," he says. "Passions span age differences and the typical couchsurfer gets you fired up about seeing the world."

He doesn't mind occasionally Spartan accommodations. "I hate hotels. I don't want to spend $120 on a box," he says. "I'd rather save that money and buy dinner for CS hosts and have a three-hour conversation." The downside can be a host whose hygiene is not up to standard. "Sometimes they're filthy and we've had to clean the kitchen before using it." And people can turn out to be strange, he grants, "beyond you're Republican and they're a Democrat, you're vegetarian and they eat burgers, they like dogs and you're a cat person." But it can be educational to stay with someone who thinks differently. "The best part of the community is learning tolerance, especially when they're kind enough to let you into their house."

He advises making your profile as comprehensive and multi-dimensional as possible to engender trust and enhance matching during the screening process. "It's like a user's manual for your phone or camera," he says. "You can't read the short version if you want to know how it really works." Putting details that make you interesting -- passions, peeves, philosophy, ideals -- will help you stand out to potential hosts. "Include photos of yourself, your kids, your dog, your travels," he says. "No need to be coy or politically correct. You're not applying for a job, you're making friends."

Amanda Alewine
Like most couchsurfers, Amanda Alewine looks to immerse herself in the local culture when she travels. "The people I met at hostels and hotels all had the same guidebooks and they were getting the same information from the front desks on where to go," says the 34-year-old planner from Oklahoma City. She has been surfing since 2006, having such indescribable, would-never-find-in-a-guidebook experiences as attending a Creole anniversary party at a baboon sanctuary in Belize.

Alewine has also acted as local host to travelers from Italy to Australia to Vietnam, showing them her favorite spots. "I take them to places like the Bricktown Canal or to Edna's, a dive bar that is filled with local characters," she says. Alewine, who has hosted more than 60 surfers, has never had an issue, but she carefully studies travelers' profiles to weed out potential problem guests. "This site can be compared to eBay," she says. "You wouldn't buy something from someone with negative feedback, so don't host or surf with someone with negative feedback." And establishing ground rules are essential when hosting. "I get first dibs on the bathroom and don't park behind my car," says Alewine. Like most relationships, communication is key. "If you're vegetarian, let people know. If you don't drink, add that," she says. "The more information you give, the better chance you'll find a good match."

It's also important to be flexible, as both a host and a traveler. "People have had car problems, over/under-estimated drive times, or decided to skip Oklahoma City and go another way," says Alewine. And it's always good to have a backup while you are surfing. "We were going to stay with a guy in Hollywood, California, but unfortunately he lost his job that evening," she says. "Although he said we could still stay, you could tell he wasn't up for company." They found a hotel instead.

More Affordable Overnights
Couch-surfing isn't the only way to stay cheap. Here are four sites offering low-cost stays around the world.

WWOOF Founded in the U.K. in 1971, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (nicknamed Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is dedicated toward sharing more sustainable lifestyles. Hosts must use ecologically sound practices and also provide lodging and meals in return for volunteer work. No money exchanges hands for WWOOFing, though local organizations sometimes charge a small booking fee.

Servas This 60-year-old "open-door" movement is arguably the first host/traveler network and focuses on peace and social justice. Traveler membership is renewed annually for a fee (stays are free), is conditional on an interviewer's approval, and you must carry an official letter of introduction containing details and photos. Host and guest commit to spending time together during the standard two-day stay.

Hostels The first "youth hostel" was founded in 1912 in Germany, but there are no age restrictions at these low-budget accommodations. Locations exist around the world, from large cities to remote outdoorsy destinations that appeal to backpackers. Hostels are a time-honored way many post-grads first explore the world, which can mean lots of noise.

Airbnb Launched wide in 2008, Airbnb connects travelers with people and companies leasing anything from a couch to a castle in 7,300 destinations spanning 161 countries. Not free, rentals can cost anywhere from $10 to $3,000 per night. Payments are held securely until you and the renter (who often remains on-site) meet in person and approve, safeguarding against fraudulent listings.

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FAA Doling Out Record Fines

Jordan Simon — 2010-08-27T11:47:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

egmTacahopeful, flickr

Just as travelers are getting upset about the rising prices and fees, airlines are taking issue with record fines being levied by the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA has a dead serious stance against airline safety improprieties and since 2004 has imposed nearly $30 million in civil penalties against more than 25 carriers. And on Thursday, regulators levied a fine of $24.2 million against American Airlines. That figure, the largest fine in FAA history, nearly trebles previous sanctions.

What did the airline do to deserve such a fine? It is due to allegations of improperly repaired electrical wheel well wiring around landing gear in the MD-80 series. The reported maintenance and inspection violations compelled American to ground 300 jets in early April 2008 until it met FAA safety regulations, leading to thousands of canceled flights affecting roughly 300,000 passengers. Ensuing inspections discovered that more than 280 jets had been non-compliant, making approximately 15,000 flights before all issues were satisfactorily resolved. Each individual flight can count as a $25,000 violation.

More on Airplane Safety:
o. What an Airplane Goes Through Before it Flies
o. Should Lithium Batteries be Banned from Flights?

While FAA spokesperson Alison Duquette declined to comment on the American Airlines investigation, the carrier did issue a statement: "[This] happened more than two years ago...We haven't received any notification by the FAA about any pending action, nor do we believe any action is warranted...[as American] has always maintained its aircraft to the highest standards." The airline also countered FAA accusations of shoddy maintenance by stating that the errors posed no safety threat. During the two years of sparring, American improved quality control and training for mechanics; the FAA found no major systemic shortcomings during an April 2009 special safety audit. Still, the agency, under Congressional pressure to enhance oversight, seemed determined to make American a scapegoat for industry maintenance issues, increasing its scrutiny regarding not just the MD-80s but everything from incorrectly overhauled Boeing 777 engine parts to fuselage scratches on Boeing 737s that supposedly weren't punctually reported.

But American isn't the airline under scrutiny. In March 2009, Northwest Airlines incurred a $1.5 million penalty for alleged failure to inspect heating wires in Boeing 757 cockpit windows, which could have led to smoke or fire. A previous order states that the planes should have been grounded until inspection, but the airline tallied more than 90,000 flights from late 2005 until 2008 when the oversight was discovered. In October 2009, the agency slammed US Airways with a $5.4 million fine (under appeal) for operating 62 total flights without required inspection of cargo doors and a cracked landing gear part. United still hasn't settled a $1 million fine assessed in June 2004 for operating a Boeing 777 on 263 flights after an inappropriately installed safety maintenance pin was found on all eight plane door emergency escape slides, rendering them unusable in the event of an emergency or evacuation.

Though the FAA does not release specific data on the frequency of violations, fines fall into several potential scenarios. Five of the more common violations are:

Maintenance violations: This seems to be the largest category, or at least the costliest. Duquette explains the first salvo is issuing an Airworthiness Directive, essentially ruling that a condition on an airplane is considered unsafe with additional maintenance required. "We say if you own this type of aircraft, we've seen this type of problem crop up, you need to fix it," she says. Sometimes there might be confusion about how the work should be performed, so "FAA inspectors make a concerted effort to get together with the maintenance and operations guys," according to Duquette.

Falsified maintenance records: Obviously, documenting that you fixed some of the Airworthy Directives when you actually didn't is an issue. Oregon-based Hillsboro Aviation learned that lesson in August 2010, when the FAA passed down a proposed $580,000 fine for falsifying maintenance records for the company's helicopters.

Installation of substandard parts: In October 2009, the FAA proposed a still-pending $3.8 million fine against United Airlines, accusing the carrier of operating a Boeing 737 aircraft on more than 200 flights in violation of maintenance procedures relating to one of its engines, endangering passengers and crew. On one aborted April 2008 flight, mechanics discovered that shop towels were covering openings in the oil sump area rather than the requisite protective caps.

Crew flying too many hours: The FAA bases the hours that a pilot can fly on fatigue science and findings on how time zone changes affect circadian rhythms. The current rules state that a pilot can no fly more than eight hours in a 24-hour period and must have eight hours of continuous rest. After whistleblowers came forward, the FAA investigated Gulfstream International Airlines and found that an antiquated system of manually transferring data led to over-scheduling crew. More than a million dollars in fines were levied.

Operational violations: This could include violating drug testing protocols for pilots and air safety crew. American Airlines came under fire in 2008 when the FAA proposed a $1.7 million dollar fine against the carrier for allegedly warning employees ahead of time about random tests.

There have been some major fines over the last couple years, yet while the multi-million dollar affairs get a lot of attention, the smaller fines are no less disconcerting. In July 2010, FAA proposed a $230,000 fine for Continental Airlines, alleging the carrier operated a Boeing 767 on 22 flights dating to August 2008 when an obligatory axle washer wasn't installed during maintenance, potentially causing the wheel bearing to fail. In April 209, regional Chautauqua Airlines incurred a $348,000 fine for purported operation of 11 regional jets between October 2007 and January 2009, covering 27,700 flights, without performing mandatory inspections, including one Embraer 145 jet that flew 43 days with a faulty inertial navigation unit.

You may be wondering why it takes so long for fines to be assessed. After the initial Airworthiness Directive, inquiries may be closed then reopened months later. Delays result from due process. "Our first concern is getting the problem fixed, which is usually done long before you read about civil penalties," says Duquette. "We'll conduct an investigation, examine data, interview people, look at the record, the airline conducts a back-and-forth dialogue, we propose a fine, then they can appeal." The latter can drag on for years.

Still, even the FAA has come under attack for insufficient oversight. A 2005 report by the Government Accountability Office found that the FAA didn't evaluate whether its partnership programs successfully decreased safety violations, and usually adopted administrative actions instead of fining airlines. A blue-ribbon panel convened in late 2008 at the Department of Transportation's behest determined that maintenance directives were often confusing and faulted the FAA for permitting vast variance in enforcement practices.

The finger-pointing will likely continue. But all parties agree that flying remains the safest form of transportation. The FAA and the airline industry have reduced the accident rate by 83 percent from 1998 to 2008. The number of airplane accidents is now one in 22.8 million flights, few of which involve fatalities. Civil penalties are arguably more symbolic than anything since infractions have usually been addressed. Indeed, Duquette stresses that potentially unsafe conditions don't automatically mean you're in danger. "If the FAA allows the airline to operate, it's safe."

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America's 10 Best Islands

Jordan Simon — 2010-08-24T11:46:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach, Best Of

Corbis

As America the Beautiful so lyrically states, our country extends "from sea to shining sea," and some of the greatest escapes in the U.S. are to the islands that line our eastern and western coast (and don't forget the Great Lakes). The islands all have their own personalities and there is something for everyone -- breathtaking hikes through national parks, inns housed in quaint Queen Anne manses, plus maritime history to spare. Take a ride on a lobster boat, go looking for orcas off an island with the same name, or just lay back and enjoy the sandy shores. No matter what you choose, you're guaranteed a vacation steeped in Americana.

Getty Images

10. Block Island, Rhode Island
Block Island makes the list for its dramatic scenery and seafaring history. You'll find 250-foot bullying bluffs guarding 17 miles of ivory-hued beaches, shimmering salt ponds, and ornate Victorian architecture (the Spring House Hotel has welcomed guests since 1854). The Block Island Historical Society, occupying an 1850 mansard-roof farmhouse, traces Native American and maritime heritage while Water Street hops in the evenings. Nearly half the island is preserved open space: moraine grasslands to marshes hosting more than 40 rare and endangered species, laced with 32 miles of tranquil trails for bikers, hikers and horseback riders. The less active can simply lounge on the beaches -- all public and free to all (including parking).

Fun Fact: Infamous buccaneer Captain Kidd frequented Block Island; local legend swears its small caves hold buried treasure.
Check out our Top 5 Travel Deals

Mini D, flickr

9. Key West, Florida
From corsairs to Cuban revolutionaries, Key West has long been synonymous with colorful characters. Its comparative isolation and spectacular scenery lures creative types, notably Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway. Bike or stroll "Old Town," the Key West Historic District that embraces Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex (site of Harry S.'s Winter White House), and Fort Zachary Taylor, as well as century-old pastel gingerbread-trim bungalows set on piers with peaked roofs and bougainvillea-draped balconies. Bustling Bahama Village, two centuries old, celebrates African cultural heritage. Seafaring traditions endure at Key West Bight, lined with seafood eateries and outfitters catering to those who want to get in or on the water to see its vibrant residents. Be prepared for a party atmosphere back on land: Thousands toast each sunset with almost pagan abandon at Mallory Square and locals joke you can smell the booze on the breeze along Duval Street.

Fun Fact: One of the Key West's many attractions is the iconic concrete "buoy" claiming "Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A."
Key West Travel Deals

Steph & Adam, flickr

8. Mackinac Island, Michigan
Most motorized vehicles have been prohibited on Mackinac since 1898, preserving this 3.8-square-mile island's Victorian "living museum" charm. Architectural styles span 300 years, including Native American structures, rare 18th-century rustic French buildings, and the flamboyant Victorian summer "cottages" of railroad and lumber barons. History is everywhere: Whitewashed 1780 Fort Mackinac presents reenactments and you can watch hearth cooking and craft making at the 18th-century Biddle House. Mackinac Island State Park preserves most of the landscape, encompassing plant-rich meadows, boreal forest, and limestone formations. Birders can admire a rainbow of avian species, while duffers can attack the challenging Wawashkamo, a course that has been continuously played since 1898. Downtown offers butterfly conservatories, a haunted house with wax monsters, and shopping for renowned Mackinac Island Chocolate Fudge and Chippewa artifacts.

Fun Fact: Somewhere in Time director Jeannot Szwarc received a rare exemption to banned motorcars so that Christopher Reeve could drive up to the 1887 Grand Hotel for the movie's opening.
Mackinac Island Travel Deals

jupiterimages

7. Mt. Desert Island, Maine
The rugged island of rocky coastlines, crystal lakes, and evergreen forests of Mt. Desert Island comprise most of Acadia National Park. Receding glaciers clawed the earth in their wake during the last Ice Age, leaving whale-backed ridges, U-shaped valleys and debris resembling abstract sculpture called erratic. The rising sea sculpted the eastern seaboard's only fjord, Somes Sound. Fabled Bar Harbor, founded in 1796, is the island's upscale yet unmistakably Down East gateway. Prominent families -- Rockefellers, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies -- built elegant estate here and made a strong commitment to stewardship. Their original conservation efforts today protect more than 50 square miles of varied terrain. The Abbe Museum's displays span 10,000 years of history, art, and archaeology. See more by booking a catamaran cruise and gliding past historic lighthouses, fanciful formations, and the mansions along "Millionaires' Row." Or book a trip on a working lobster boat to see where tonight's dinner came from.

Fun Fact: Cadillac Mountain, the north Atlantic coast's highest point, provides jaw-dropping panoramas and during certain times of the year is the first U.S. spot to witness sunrise.
Book Mt. Desert Island Hotels

Allison Turrell, flickr

6. Mustang Island, Port Aransas, Texas
This 18-mile-long barrier island, connected by a causeway and 24-hour ferry to Corpus Christi, offers wildlife and wild life at party-hearty Port Aransas. Trolleys ply the historic honkytonk town, filled with down-home pubs and upscale galleries. Wide bay- and Gulf-side beaches, lined with dunes, seafood shanties and marinas, hikers, seashell collectors, and sandcastle architects (100,000 spectators ogle hundreds of entries at SandFest, the nation's largest sand-sculpting competition, every April). Aquatic activities abound: surfing waves off the jetty, kite-boarding off protected sandbars, casting for trophy tuna and tarpon. Tournaments lure international competitors, who spin tales of the ones that got away in fun funky bars. More than 500 bird species vacation here, dolphin frolic in the channel, and coyote roam Mustang Island State Park.

Fun Fact: Mark "Sand Man" Landrum acts as Port A's official "Sandcastle Dream Builder," offering lessons in engineering elaborate moats and machicolated battlements.
Port Aransas Travel Deals

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5. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Outermost of the Outer Banks, Ocracoke is a 16-mile slash of unspoiled sand along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The remote isle was settled in the 1750s and history hounds can admire the East Coast's oldest operating lighthouse (built 1823) and browse Civil War artifacts at the Ocracoke Preservation Museum. Over 250 historic structures remain standing on the island (often on stilts), most utilizing materials from scuttled ships. The culinary, shopping, and nightlife scenes are worth the trip as well. Fisherman angle for Spanish mackerel and speckled trout, which is then served alongside oyster stew simmered with bacon at generations-old family-owned restaurants. Shops carry authentic crafts from quilts to woodcarvings, and CDs by such well-regarded locals as Molasses Creek and Mya Rose, who play bars like Deep Water Theater and Mango Loco.

Fun Fact: Isolated Ocracoke developed its own distinct dialect, a "brogue" which you can still distinguish among older residents.
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Alamy

4. Orcas Island, Washington
One of the hilly, verdant San Juan Islands, "The Rock" (as the locals call it) is blanketed with evergreen forests and stitched with sandy beaches perfect for zoning out. Madrona Point Park has nature paths and hundreds of twisting, ocher-hued madrona trees sprouting like restless spirits from the rocky shoreline, while Moran State Park has 5,200 acres of woodlands filigreed with waterfalls and lakes for swimming. The Orcas Island Historical Museum documents early island life in six original homestead cabins and the Crow Valley Museum, located in an 1888 territorial one-room schoolhouse, features furnishings, childhood memorabilia, and photographs. And, as the island's name implies, whale watching is one of the water recreations. Go May through October to see Orcas as well as Minke Whales.

Fun Fact: Local artists demonstrate their creative processes from blowing glass art to pottery in working studios in Olga's Orcas Island Artworks, a popular café/gallery in a former strawberry-barreling plant.

ralph and jenny, flickr

3. St. Simons Island, Georgia
The largest of Georgia's four Golden Isles, St. Simons has beckoned bluebloods and birders for a century with marshes, maritime forests, and Mediterranean Revival mansions. The island's location made it a strategic maritime point: Explore Fort Frederica National Monument, where colonists won a major naval battle during the Revolutionary war and learn more at the WPA-built 1935 Old Coast Guard Station that houses the Maritime Center museum. Golfers can play hundreds of challenging holes between St. Simons and neighboring Sea and Jekyll Islands. Patrol the waters on a working shrimp boat, sail on a dolphin-watching tour, or just bask on pearly sands.

Fun Fact: The 104-foot St. Simons Lighthouse (a working navigational beacon operational since 1872) and its brick Victorian light-keeper's residence were renovated in 2010.

Corbis

2. Santa Catalina Island, California
Catalina combines historic ambience with wilderness allure by offering everything from Art Deco theaters to zip lines. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. brought the Chicago Cubs here for spring training (they played on the island until 1952) and the historic clubhouse, now the Catalina Country Club & Golf Course, displays Cubbies memorabilia. Wrigley also built the ornate 1929 Catalina Casino. Take the tour to see the Deco reliefs, Tiffany chandeliers, and 180-foot-diameter parquet dance floor in the world's largest circular ballroom. Outdoorsy types should rest assured that the Catalina Island Conservancy acts as responsible steward, controlling approximately 88 percent of the island. Hiking, mountain biking, camping, and often diving permits must be obtained.

Fun Fact: Catalina, only 22 miles from Los Angeles, has been the backdrop for countless films and TV shows. The approximately 150 American bison that roam Catalina are descended from those imported for the 1924 filming of The Vanishing American. Due to cost overruns, producers left them on island (Catalina's scenes didn't even make the final cut).

petercruise, flickr

1. Shelter Island, New York
Tiny Shelter Island offers a lower-key atmosphere and attitude than the high-maintenance, celebrity-riddled Hamptons. The Nature Conservancy owns nearly one third of the island, protecting wetlands in their wild state. Stroll Shelter Island Heights, a classic Romantic rural residential development on the National Register of Historic Places. Natural terrain dictated the layout, optimizing water views-its 141 buildings (designed between 1872 and 1890 and virtually unchanged since) range from fanciful folk architecture to elaborately embellished Stick-Eastlake, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival manses. Many now house charming inns and restaurants serving seasonal regional bounty.

Fun Fact: Ferry to Greenport and explore Long Island's emerging wine region. Most wineries respect the vernacular architecture, renovating old potato barns; several also reflect their owners' other passions, from world-class art collections to botanical gardens.
Shelter Island Travel Deals

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Airline Fees On the Rise (Again)

Jordan Simon — 2010-08-13T17:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

jondoeforty1, flickr

We're beginning to sound like a broken record. It was just in May that we last examined the extra fees increasingly imposed by airlines, and they are at it again. New fees, part of a practice dubbed "unbundling," include peak travel surcharges, fees for standby, early boarding, and seat assignment, many sneakily hidden in the overall fare. The Department of Transportation estimated that now airlines present passengers with more than 100 additional fee options. So what do you need to know before you book?

The most egregious new fee is Spirit's controversial charge for overhead carry-ons. This prompted the advocacy group FlyersRights.org to demand that Congress ban such practices permanently. Flyers Rights president/founder Kate Hanni quipped that America's once-friendly skies had become the "Land of the Fee." And she's not the only one who is wary of what this will mean for consumers. "Being the only airline to add the charge, it's now even more likely that Spirit's self-proclaimed 'ultra low fares' will wind up costing more in the end than its competitors," says Anne Banas, Executive Editor of SmarterTravel. "So it's even more important for consumers to go beyond the advertised fare and compare prices on multiple airlines with all fees in mind before booking."

How have extra fees changed your flying habits?
I fly the same amount. I don't have an option.	260 (7.1%)
I fly the same amount but have changed the way I pack.	894 (24.5%)
I fly less. The fees are just too much.	1535 (42.1%)
I stopped flying.	954 (26.2%)

Spirit's official announcement stated the policy would "improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process." Ben Baldanza, Spirit President and CEO, testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation in July 2010 that the airline had reduced base fares when it led the checked-bag charge in 2007, then again just recently to offset carry-on fees. "Carry-on bags have become a nightmare for passenger boarding and deplaning," Baldanza argued. "Significantly, last March the Association of Flight Attendants reported that 80 percent of flight attendants had been injured during the last year by moving carry-on bags in and out of overhead bins." His argument seems like foreshadowing after the recent JetBlue incident. "Maybe, just maybe, Spirit Airlines doesn't look so stupid," says AirfareWatchdog president George Hobica. "Modern jetliners were not designed to accommodate every last passenger's carry-on bag, especially since flight attendants are not policing the size of these bags."

While no other airlines have plans to institute carry-on fees (at the moment), they are getting crafty with their add-ons, some of which you will never actually notice. Take the Peak-Travel Surcharge, for instance. Never heard of it? You may have already paid it. Holiday and summer fares are notoriously expensive, but they are even higher now that airlines such as American, Continental, Delta, United, and US Airways are adding between $10 (for mid-week summer flights) and $30 (for the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend) to each leg. Delta was even so bold as to add a $50 surcharge to one-way flights on the day after the Super Bowl. And unlike fees for baggage or blankets, these surcharges are folded into the fare, making them undetectable. "It has become extremely difficult for consumers to effectively compare prices and make informed choices when purchasing a fare," says Banas. "And airlines have been taking advantage of that fact, especially by not disclosing fees appropriately."

Some airlines are still resisting tacking on fee after fee. During July's Congressional hearing, Southwest executive Dave Ridley saw a correlation between Southwest's commitment to "affordable, transparent, and easy-to-understand pricing structure and low fares with no hidden fees" and "a domestic market share shift worth close to a billion dollars" since the introduction of the "Bags Fly Free" advertising campaign. He added that another benefit is increased overhead space, unlike other airlines whose policies "'incentivized' customers to carry their bags onboard rather than pay bag fees."

Southwest also does not charge an extra fee if you want to go standby, another trendy new add-on that airlines have started implementing. The legacy carriers now charge $50 if you want to take an earlier flight than you are scheduled for. American gives you the option to bypass the standby charge -- if you want to pay another fee instead. Their new Your Choice "boarding and flexibility" package, which costs between $9 and $19 and is available on some of their most popular routes, provides early boarding, free standby, and a $75 discount on flight changes.

"The ancillary fees are not going away," says Cheapflights.com CEO Chris Cuddy. "[They] can generate 20 percent or more of an airline's revenues at high profit margins, quite simply helping the airlines stay financially aloft." A recently published Consumer Travel Alliance analysis, focusing on four popular routes taken by millions of travelers found that a typical traveler requesting just two ancillary fees (extra legroom and one checked bag) would pay an average of 26 percent more than the ticket base price shown on the website. A traveler checking two bags would pay 54 percent more, the actual increase ranging from 21 to 153 percent. And this has translated into big money for the airlines. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that in 2009 U.S. airlines collected $7.8 billion in ancillary fee revenue, including $2.7 billion in baggage fees alone (up from $1.1 billion in 2008). Another $2.4 billion was made from reservation change fees. In the first quarter of 2010 alone, domestic carriers toted up $769 million in baggage fee revenue and a staggering $554 million from skyrocketing reservation change fees. Despite these gains, network air carriers reported losses of $163 million in the first quarter of 2010, and the industry as a whole only reported a profit of $12 million. Still, industry-wide second-quarter profits for the nine largest airlines numbered $1.86 billion. Every major carrier, save for American, was in the black. (See the chart below for the airline's 2009 revenue for the extras fees. It's interesting to note that Spirit's revenue has not been reported.)

So the moral is that profitability comes at a cost -- to the consumer. And it's not just new fees, but also sharp passenger capacity reduction both in the number of planes and routes (as well as consolidation/mergers), which inevitably increases fares due to competition for available seats. United Airlines president John Tague told the Wall Street Journal that the new pricing structure was "an unequivocal success" estimated to generate $1 billion annually.

What the government can and can not do to protect consumers from out of control pricing is up in the air. Various rulings mandate that some fees (fuel surcharges, peak travel and holiday surcharges, government taxes, and, as of May 2008, checked baggage policies) be disclosed in advertisements and during telephone and counter sales. Robert S. Rivkin, DOT's General Counsel, stated that's no longer sufficient. "We believe that the proliferation of these fees and the manner in which they are presented to the traveling public can be confusing and in some cases misleading," says Rivkin. "The published fare used by many consumers... does not clearly represent the actual cost of travel." The DOT may also require carriers to provide up-to-date, comprehensive fee information to Internet websites that sell airline tickets and to travel agents, having estimated that at least half of all airline tickets in the United States are sold by travel agencies.

It was Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio that really summed up flyers' frustration: "They just want to know, 'how much is the ticket going to cost them?'" See the updated chart below for whose charging what -- and how much the airlines are bringing in.

	American	Continental	Delta	JetBlue	Southwest	Spirit	United	US Airways	Virgin America
Booking Fees (on phone/in person)	$20/$30	$20	$20/$35	$15	$0	$5/$0	$25/$30	$25-$35/$35-$45	$15/$10
Seat Selection (one-way)	N/A	Prices vary	N/A	$10 for extra legroom	$10 for priority boarding	$8-$25	$9 and up for Economy Plus	$5 and up for aisle or window towards front	$35 and up for Main Cabin Select
Ticket Change	$150	$150	$150	$100	$0	$100	$150	$150	$100 ($75 online)
First Bag (online/at airport)	$25	$23/$25	$23/$25	$0	$0	$15-$45	$23/$25	$23/$25	$25
Second Bag (online/at airport)	$35	$32/$35	$32/$35	$30	$0	$15-$25	$32/$35	$32/$35	$25
Carry On	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$20-$45	$0	$0	$0
Blanket and Pillow	$8	$0	$0	$7	N/A	N/A	$0	$7	$12
Peak-Travel Surcharge	$10-$30	$10-$30	$10-$30	$0	$0	$0	$10-$30	$10-$30	$0
Standby Fees	$50	$50	$50	$0	$0	$0	$50	$50	$0
2009 Fee Revenue (in millions)	$1,002.4	$539.7	$1,647.6	$193.1	$617.1	N/A	$619.5	$912.1	$39

Note: All prices are based on domestic economy flights and are subject to change.

With fees on the rise, the only thing airlines have left is service. Find out who flies the friendliest skies with the AOL Mystery Flyer.

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America's Best Beach Towns

Jordan Simon — 2010-06-18T13:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach

rockmixer, flickr

As the summer season starts, finding the perfect beach for sunbathing and splashing in the surf becomes a national pastime, even obsession. But what happens off the sand is just as important. While we all hope that the sun will shine every day of our vacation, it's good to know there are options if the skies open up. These ten towns are classic Americana and are packed with museums, shops, and other rainy-day diversions, plus lots of fun festivals and outdoor activities if you want to do something more active then turning the pages of the latest chick-lit release (did someone say mini-golf?).So come along and tour America's best beach towns from the California Coast to the tip of Cape Cod. Just remember to pack the sunscreen.

10. Huntington Beach, California
You won't be able to stop yourself from humming Beach Boys tunes while you hang out, or hang ten, at this self-described Surf City, USA (they claim to have the West Coast's largest stretch of uninterrupted coastline). If you are looking for something beyond the epic waves and pick-up volleyball games, head to the International Surfing Museum or chill with the bohemian types at the HB Art Center. At sunset head to Huntington Beach Pier, located where Main Street meets the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, for stunning views.

Tip: Locals get amped for veggie burritos, shrimp tacos, and smoothies at Secret Spot, an aptly named tiny strip-mall storefront on Warner Avenue with a neo-hippie vibe.

9. Kennebunkport, Maine
The old-time fishing village of Kennebunkport is like a Currier and Ives print come to life (it's also the summer retreat of choice for George H.W. Bush). You can work on a lobster boat, fly-fish, or kayak past whimsical formations like Blowing Cave and Spouting Rock. Stroll by elaborate Federal and Victorian manses built by sea captains, many now housing inns, or experience history in motion at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Kennebunkport's riverside Dock Square teems with shops and galleries selling stoneware and watercolor seascapes, eco-chic boutiques stocking organic body gels, and of course purveyors of local blueberry jams. Old Orchard Beach features New England's only oceanfront amusement park where you can get your thrills on the Ferris wheel and roller coasters.

Tip: Enjoy live jazz several nights weekly at 95 Ocean, which also offers a great prix fixe pre-theater dinner.

8. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City's tawny beaches and towering dunes merit the moniker Malibu of Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features wilderness islands, trails through diverse ecosystems, and preserved historic farmsteads. This part of Michigan has a deep history and South Manitou Island, reachable by ferry, recreates pioneer days from old schoolhouse to 1871 lighthouse while area museums celebrate everything from steam railroads to Scandinavian heritage. Traverse City's Victorian downtown boasts hundreds of galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Foodies should pick up a Tasty Traverse guide if they want to chat with brewers and bakers, fromageres and fishermen. There are also those great American summer activities like mini-golf, bumper boats, go karts, and video arcades. Early July brings the famous National Cherry Festival with arts-and-crafts fairs, air shows, and cherries baked, pressed, and jammed in every way possible.

Tip: The picturesque Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas north of town proved surprisingly conducive to grape-growing, notable for Rieslings, Pinot Noirs, and ice wines (try Chateau Grand Traverse).

7. Cape May, New Jersey
This isn't the Jersey Shore you see on MTV: Rocking the night away here means settling into a chair on your B&B's porch. Cape May is America's oldest seaside resort and its entire downtown of framed, gingerbread Victorian architecture was declared a National Historic Landmark. Stroll the pedestrian Washington Street Mall and pop into the family-owned cafes, ice cream parlors, and specialty shops selling handmade leather sandals and saltwater taffy. The Promenade is a classic boardwalk scene with 50s-style arcades, leading to the 19th-century Lighthouse (climb 199 steps for smashing views) where nature trails access Cape May Point State Park, a birding bonanza.

Tip: The historic Chalfonte Hotel's Henry Sawyer Room presents cabarets, comedians, and the Concert by Candlelight series; its legendary King Edward Bar offers artisan cheeses alongside cocktails during weekend happy hours.

6. Boca Grande, Florida
The Gulf Barrier Islands off Florida's southwest coast define laidback lifestyle: Think Hemingway's Key West before the neon, noise and nonstop partying. Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island lacks traffic lights and chain stores, but it does have a century-old lighthouse, banyan tree-lined streets, and a converted railway station shopping complex showcasing local art. Land-based activities include hiking and biking along the former train tracks, or if you want to hit the water you can island-hop from Captiva to Cabbage Key (it's one of America's top-ranked sailing destinations) or kayak through manatee-filled mangrove swamps. After a full day, watch the setting sun fireball across the water from South Beach Bar & Grille's patio.

Tip: Golf courses here incorporate the natural landscape with snaking water hazards and untamed scrub teeming with wildlife. The 18-hole at the Pinemoor Golf Club was designed by Pete Dye and is open to the public, but book your tee time early.

5. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Artists have long contemplated nature's creativity along this rugged volcanic coast. It's no wonder why: The landscape features hulking boulders like 235-foot basalt Haystack Rock, tidal pools, and forests plunging to the Pacific, all punctuated by powdery strands. Numerous galleries and artists' ateliers showcase various media from glass to candle making. Several nearby museums celebrate the region's maritime and military heritage, the History Center recreates a Native American longhouse, and ranger-led tours follow in explorers' footsteps at Lewis & Clark National Historic Park. After checking those off your list, join Portland scenesters in the unpretentious wine lounges.

Tip: At the EVOO Cooking School you can take classes like Artisan Bread Making and Crepes 101, or reserve a spot at one of the wine dinners and let them do the cooking.

4. Pismo Beach, California
This stretch of sand is California's "Clam Capital," wonderfully illustrated by the giant concrete bivalve sculpture. But if you are looking for something more land-based, head to nearby San Luis Obispo. The town offers classic Spanish Colonial structures including the Serra-founded Tolosa Mission, the neo-Romanesque Carnegie Library that now houses the County Historical Museum, and more architectural bounty from Frank Lloyd Wright designs to Art Deco theaters. Mission Plaza is the focal point for top shops and restaurants, and, while it's no Napa, world-class, lesser-known wineries beckon just 10 minutes from the beach for tasting/tours, including the coolly contemporary Tolosa.

Tip: Famously flamboyant Madonna Inn is a temple to kitsch, boldly juxtaposing Western and Alpine accents, reaching its campy climax in a rock waterfall urinal that attracts thousands of gawkers.

3. Provincetown, Massachusetts
Welcoming all ages, races, creeds and sexual orientations, P-Town crowns the tip of Cape Cod, where it curls like a tongue stuck out at convention. Yet the Puritans' Mayflower Compact was signed here pre-Plymouth Rock; the commemorative 252-foot all-granite Pilgrim Monument offers spectacular vistas. The adjacent Provincetown Museum portrays historic events and people from the native Wampanoag tribe. Colonial clapboard buildings house B&Bs, boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. Also be sure to check what (and who) is onstage at the Provincetown Theater, where O'Neill, Stewart and Fonda honed their crafts.

Tip: The Province Lands Visitor Center offers a fantastic observation deck plus ranger-guided walking tours of cranberry bogs, tidal flats, and salt marshes.

2. Rockport, Texas
Studies perennially rank Rockport among the nation's cleanest beaches, but you can get down 'n' dirty at the many seafood shacks and shanty bars where returning fishermen tell tales of tackling Texas-sized tarpon. Key Allegro Marina bustles, especially during July's Rockport Offshore Challenge, and The Heritage downtown district offers upscale shopping and walking tours. The Rockport Center for the Arts, Texas Maritime Museum, and Victorian landmark Fulton Mansion detail the area's history. Natural wonders include The Big Tree (a 1,000-year-old coastal live oak that is one of the country's largest), and spotting whooping cranes and ruby-throated hummingbirds in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Tip: Stevie Lew's BBQ Kitchen smokes the competition with mouth- and eye-watering eats, including savory sausages, spare ribs and tender melting pulled pork.

1. Chincoteague Island, Virginia
This tranquil landfall off Virginia's coast is famed for the feral Chincoteague ponies that roam nearby Assateague Island. Every July since 1925, the Pony Penning and auction floods the town with tourists there to watch the ponies gallop down Main Street. This area is a nature-lover's nirvana all year round, though, with Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore, home to herons, bald eagles, and woodpeckers. If the weather is keeping you from visiting the birds' natural habitat, the Refuge Waterfowl Museum exhibits extensive wildlife murals, skipjack boat models, and wildfowl woodcarvings by renowned decoy crafters like carver-in-residence Delbert "Cigar" Daisy. Victorian inns and ice cream parlors, clam shacks serving Chincoteague oysters, and beachfront BBQs complete the Norman Rockwell picture.

Tip: Watch rocket launches at the NASA Visitor Center at the Wallops Flight Facility where Science on a Sphere Theatre projects 3-D effects on a suspended six-foot-diameter globe, depicting the moon, Jupiter storms, and Earth as seen by astronauts.

Photo Credits: Huntington Beach - Kevin Labianco, flickr; Pismo Beach - centralcoastpictures, flickr; Boca Grande - Aenneken, flickr; Kennebunkport - skyobrienpics, flickr; Provincetown - Hbarrison, flickr; Traverse City - .jowo., flickr; Cape May - akuban, flickr; Cannon Beach - zug55, flickr; Rockport - osunikon, flickr; Chincoteague - USFWS, flickr

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Secret Beaches of the US

Jordan Simon — 2010-05-19T15:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach

Asim Choudhri

Hate crowds? So do we. While the beauty and appeal of popular destination beaches is undeniable, the stretches are usually as sardine-packed as the Southern California waters when the grunions run. Fortunately, we found amazing sand-and-surf getaways for beachcombers who savor solitude, just in time for the summer season to go into full swing. Most are fairly remote and are accessible only by boat or strenuous hike while others fly under the radar despite being right under your zinc oxide-slathered nose. So grab a suit, towel, and book and hit these ten off-the-grid beaches.

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Secret Beaches of the US

Fans of Winslow Homer's paintings might recognize this scenic seascape that is little changed in the past century. Fronting the Scarborough River and marsh, this Atlantic inlet beach looks more serene than the typical wild Maine tangle of rock and surf, and its sand is fine rather than coarse and pebbly. Still, beware the swirling currents and sudden drop-off. If you are looking to swim, stroll south to the calmer waters at adjacent Western Beach. You can watch lobstermen go about their business, and the flurry of flotillas floating in and out of the boathouse.

Tip: If water sports are more your thing, head to nearby Higgins Beach. The wide grin of sand has barely enough parking even for residents, who dub it a "private beach with public access." The linen-white stretch offers spectacular kayaking, fishing, surfing, even snorkeling around shipwrecks.

Secret Beaches of the US

You have to hike down the challenging titular escarpment to access this rad surf spot, which resembles an abstract rock art installation with striated bluffs and unusual rock formations peppered with tiny coves. The strands come and go with the tides, but it's peaceful and utterly gorgeous and has unimpeded views of the Pacific, as well as the iconic Point Loma Lighthouse. You may even see dinosaur fossils embedded in the ancient rock. It's the perfect spot to hang ten or hang out, but obviously beware the powerful churning undertow.

Tip: Hip hopping happening Ocean Beach is right nearby. The quintessential SoCal beach town, O.B brims with boisterous bars, cafes, and surf shops. Before you escape to the masses, pick up some of the best fish tacos anywhere at South Beach Bar & Grill for your picnic.

Secret Beaches of the US

Unlike several surrounding islands, pastoral Guemes has maintained its slow pace and mellow vibe. It helps that it takes a ferry or a private boat to access this sliver of sand. The mile-long beach features excellent crabbing in summer, shiny agates that make lovely keepsakes, and dazzling views of Puget Sound and Mt. Baker. Eagles soar above, seals and porpoises cavort offshore, and you might even see a pod of orcas cruise by (there are also chartered whale-watching boat trips in season).

Tip: Other than a few beachfront home rentals, the only lodging is quaint, eco-centric Guemes Island Resort. Stop by its fun funky general store for provisions, especially artisanal boutique beers, wines, even sakes.

Secret Beaches of the US

Monroe is Michigan's only county situated on Lake Erie, yet despite the proximity of Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, this charmer remains tranquil even during spring break. Inlets and waterways filigree the coast, forming marshes that attract wildlife and waterfowl. The name derives from estrella, Spanish for "star," which could easily apply to the perfectly tumbled sea glass that can be found in exquisite colors ranging from cobalt to crimson.

Tip: Outdoor writer Mark Hicks, author of "The Walleye Pro's Notebook" calls this 50-mile shoreline the "sweetest freshwater sea." Locals brag that it's the world's walleye capital, and you'll find plenty of bait shops and boat rentals if you're angling for catch.

Secret Beaches of the US

Part of the country's first designated National Seashore, this barrier island, caught between the Atlantic and Currituck Sound, remains blissfully undeveloped, with communities refusing to permit paved roads. Past "bustling" Carolla north to the Virginia border, the 11 miles of beaches are only accessible via four-wheel drive, with dirt tracks dancing in and out of scrub pine forest. Much of the area is protected wetlands and wildlife reserve, offering sensational bird, dolphin and sea turtle watching. Activities along the coast range from kayaking to kite boarding. Kitty Hawk, home to the Wright Brothers museum and the world's largest hang-gliding school, is also close by. It's one of the premier mid-Atlantic spots to glimpse wild horses, descendants of shipwrecked colonial Spanish mustangs, galloping amid the surf and dunes.

Tip: Take one of the guided backcountry jeep and horse tours out of Corolla, whose interactive Wild Horse Museum also offers activities for kids.

Secret Beaches of the US

Obviously the Hawaiian Islands teem with striking strands, many of them secluded. But few beaches in the world can rival nature's artistry here, dramatically juxtaposing elemental colors. The turquoise lagoon, the jade green ironwood trees, the bullying black cliffs, and the ruddy sand that comes courtesy of crumbling volcanic cinder cone make for a vibrant surrounding unlike any other. Just south of world-famous Hana Bay, Kaihalulu is best reached by a precariously steep cliffside path, and its comparative inaccessibility makes it a favorite with the clothing-optional set.

Tip: A jagged lava seawall forms a natural barrier against the fierce Pacific currents, but even strong swimmers should watch the prevailing winds and surf: There's a reason the name means "Roaring Sea."

Secret Beaches of the US

You walk roughly a half mile partly under canopies of the world's tallest living things that vault up to 35 stories to reach this sublime stretch, ringed by wildflower-carpeted cliffs. It's a majestic perch to watch migrating whales in season, as well as bald eagles and sea lions. Locals often comb the beach for whimsically shaped "found art" driftwood. Depending on the tide you'll find freshwater streams, eroded stone arches, and boulders like Henry Moore sculptures, part of why the United Nations designated the coast and interior old-growth forest as a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.

Tip: You can hike nearly the entire coastal length of the park, or take advantage of fascinating park ranger-guided tidal pool and other nature walks.

Secret Beaches of the US

Romantic rumors of buried buccaneer booty still abound about this archipelago of seven islets roughly 70 miles west of Key West. And it's well worth the five-hour round-trip ferry ride or 20-minute seaplane ride into the Gulf of Mexico. The area was designated a National Park for its natural beauty and historic significance since it's home to the unfinished 1846 Fort Jefferson, the Western Hemisphere's largest masonry structure, stretching half a mile and incorporating 50-foot walls. The treacherous surrounding waters abound with coral-encrusted shipwrecks, making them a dive/snorkeling Mecca; it's also a prime bird watching spot.

Tip: Though the Park sees 80,000 visitors, they're mostly day-trippers; adventuresome souls can apply for camping permits to enjoy supreme solitude. Be sure to pack all necessities including drinking water -- they're not called dry for nothing and lack any freshwater source other than rain.

Secret Beaches of the US

Only 300 daily campers and visitors can access America's largest wilderness island, part of the National Seashore (and U.N. International Biosphere Reserve) at the state's southeastern tip. Fifty miles of hiking/biking trails meander past imposing 19th-century ruins through several distinct eco-systems: maritime forests, interior wetlands, freshwater lakes, marshes, tidal creeks, and beautiful thousand-foot-wide beaches where dolphins and manatees swim. You can also bob for bass, beach comb for shark's teeth and shells, or bird watch; indigenous wildlife runs the gamut from armadillos to alligators, as well as over 330 avian species from pelicans to peregrine falcons.

Tip: There are several campgrounds or you can rough it in rustic-chic style at the grand Greyfield Inn, built in 1900 by the Carnegies as a family manse.

Secret Beaches of the US

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Should We Be Worried About Our Pilots?

Jordan Simon — 2010-05-18T08:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

*Robert*, flickr

Forget the image of flying as a glamorous profession and lifestyle. The highs of an office in the sky are countered by the crashing reality of reduced salaries and eliminated pension plans. And a host of new rules will add further strain to the already-stressful job.

A pilot's day begins long before takeoff with aircraft inspection and flight plan review, and the long grueling hours and constant travel strain family life. Those working for smaller commuter carriers often can't afford to live in his or her hub city or take second jobs to make ends meet. Rebecca Shaw, copilot of Colgan Flight 3407 that crashed near Buffalo in February 2009, earned just $23,900 annually and had flown overnight from Seattle to Newark as a passenger before piloting the doomed plane.

Pilots get all the credit when things go right (see: Sullenberger, Chesley), but are also the first to be blamed when things go wrong. Last October's overflight of Minneapolis by Northwest pilots and the Colgan Air crash have highlighted aviation safety issues like cockpit distractions, inadequate training, inexperience, and fatigue. In response, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) will implement more rigorous training regulations and also issued an "Information for Operators" guidance memo regarding cockpit use of personal electronic devices. After exhaustive investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), scathingly critiqued the recent high-profile accidents, delivering more than 25 recommendations, including monitoring cockpit conversations and scheduling industry-wide forums on safety and professionalism.

The recent events have spurred a three-day forum that began on Tuesday. While the conference is centered on getting more pilots and air controllers to consistently strive for a higher level of professionalism, some unsettling statistics have already been revealed. On the first day of the conference, the NTSB expressed concerns that future pilots may not make the grade when the time comes, especially those flying regional carriers. Fewer military pilots are leaving for , choosing instead to pursue more lucrative corporate positions, and fewer college students see careers in aviation as a cost-effective path. The lack of general interest, and looming retirements (along with anticipated industry growth), shows signs that future pilots will be less experienced and in short supply.

Given the recent incidents of distracted flying (texting after pushing back from the gate, working on laptops, supposedly excessive chatter, possible fatigue-impaired decisions) and what the NTSB blasted as critical errors of mishandling, we favor legislation that increases safety. But are these new rules grounded in reality?

1. Increasing Training Hours
New FAA regulations that passed the Senate and the House compel all copilots on regional passenger airlines to have at least 800 hours of training, including experience in adverse weather conditions such as icing and flying at high altitudes and in a multi-pilot cockpit. New York Senator Chuck Schumer's original amendment required all commercial airline pilots and copilots to have at least 1,500 hours of training. For some perspective, current regulations allow commuter pilots with only 250 hours of experience to fly passengers. Carriers must also train pilots on handling stalls, spins, and other emergencies. Exercises like that were once included in training schools' syllabi, but were eliminated nearly 20 years ago due to expense and the incidents' rarity. A European Aviation Safety Association survey discovered that nearly half of all pilots during initial or refresher training had never even witnessed a stall or spin. EASA will mandate "Upset Recovery Training" by 2012; the FAA should follow suit. The NTSB also proposed six safety recommendations to the FAA based on new computerized "glass cockpit" technology training alone, as well as response to system malfunctions.

Recommendations are also being made about accessing aviator records during pre-employment screening. Many pilots and instructors argue it's a question of improving not just training, but pilot selection and recruitment as well. Flight 3407 Captain Marvin Renslow failed two critical flying skills tests but didn't tell Colgan prior to his hiring nor did the carrier request complete records from the FAA. Yet Renslow and co-pilot Shaw actually met the proposed 1,500-hour minimum. The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), comprising over 360 leading aviation educators from all areas of the industry, polled members and the near-uniform consensus was that hours alone aren't an indicator of competency.

2. Banning Personal Electronic Devices
The NTSB argues that PEDs have a disturbing impact on aviation, and has called for tighter cockpit discipline since 2007. "There is no room for distraction when your job is to get people safely to their destinations," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's statement read. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt (himself a former airline pilot) noted that "Every aviation professional needs to take the issue of distractions in the cockpit seriously."

Chris Cuddy, CEO of Cheapflights Media, points out that the FAA specifically discourages usage during taxi, takeoff, climbing to 10,000 feet, and during descent and landing. "This is common sense as these time windows are the most intensive part of a flight," he says. "Can you imagine texting or using your laptop while navigating a highway on-ramp in your family minivan?" Smarter Travel Executive Editor Anne Banas considers the memo unnecessary for the majority of pilots who are diligent about following high safety standards. "However, because recent incidents of pilots being neglectful or making careless decisions have made headlines, it's important to ensure that safety is a priority across the board and improve consumer confidence," she says.

3. Monitoring Cockpit Chatter
The NTSB recommends utilizing cockpit voice recordings (black boxes) to monitor pilot conversations regularly, rather than just post-accident to determine cause. Pilots on the Northwest flight that overshot Minneapolis told investigating FBI agents that their literal oversight and concomitant failure to contact radio controllers was due to a heated conversation about airline policy (rules already forbid unnecessary non-work-related chatter during crucial parts of the flight).

Unions call it an invasion of privacy, though NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt stated, "This is not a case of Big Brother spying on pilots." More worrisome is that it could foster distrust among flight crews. Continental Captain John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association union, believes reviews could prevent pilots discussing safety issues in the cockpit for fear of discipline. The FAA suggests reviews would be performed anonymously and analyzed for safety trends. Even Bill Voss, president of the independent Flight Safety Foundation favors implementing other safety initiatives first, though he conceded "that was a very long conversation" when asked about the Northwest flight. But Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, dubbed it "the next frontier of safety" at a hearing.

4. Toughening Fatigue Regulation
Studies show lack of sleep can be equivalent to drinking on the job, impairing judgment and slowing response time. Questions persist about the role fatigue played in the Colgan crash, especially since both pilots took overnight flights to Newark. "Can you imagine taking the family on an interstate drive after you pulled an all-nighter?" says Cuddy. "And there's no pulling over on the side of the road when you are flying." NTSB Chairwoman Debbie Hersman is concerned as well. "Many times, they're crossing multiple time zones for their job," she says. "This is a very brutal lifestyle."

FAA regulations limit flying time of airline pilots of large aircraft to a maximum of 100 monthly and 1,000 annual hours. Most airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours a month and work an additional 140 hours a month performing non-flying duties, including waiting out delays that irk them as much as passengers. Though some pilots can have a maximum workday of 16 hours, those on domestic flights may fly no more than eight hours during a 24-hour period, and to have at least eight continuous hours of rest. But pilots and federal officials claim those rules, set decades ago, are inadequate. The NTSB has urged the FAA since 1990 to strengthen regulations. Previous efforts stalled: Unions demanded fewer hours on-duty and increased time off between flights, while airlines opposed the changes, which would increase labor costs (and potentially fares).

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Airline Fees on the Rise: What You Need to Know

Jordan Simon — 2010-05-10T13:07:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel, News

bigbirdz, flickr

There seems to be a domino effect with airline fees. Virgin America and JetBlue started charging for blankets, so American Airlines followed suit. Continental was a little late to the party when it announced it will discontinue free meals (a dinosaur among legacy carriers). And 2010 started with an across-the-board bag fee hike at most major airlines, including all legacy carriers and even Virgin America."These are prime examples of the industry's bandwagon mentality," says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. "Once one airline starts the parade and adds or raises a fee, the rest eventually join in. They figure, if everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't we?"

What Should Airlines Do to Make More Money?

We've heard from the experts, but what do you think airlines should do to make more money? Suggestions ranged from last minute shopping on TV screens to an airline coffee club with a plastic card for a wallet or keychain enabling you to drink free beverages at any airport vendor without fumbling for change or your wallet. Here are two of our favorites.

o. Paula Laurita: "I've long thought that airlines have it backwards. Charge $10 for check-in bags, but charge $25 for carry-on." This would improve security and on-time departures, instead of waiting "15 minutes while a passenger literally stomped on his duffle bag to make it fit into the overhead bin."

o. "Stop these little add-on fees and perhaps place ads on the overhead bins and in the rest rooms. And charge BIG bucks," says Mary Lock Albrecht. "Maybe the pilot could say: 'This flight is brought to you in part by Coca-Cola and Mrs. Fields cookies' which would encourage people to buy snacks."

We covered the new world of baggage fees and surcharges back in December, but the add-ons haven't stopped and airlines are getting more and more creative, charging for as many "perks" as they can: "preferred" seat selection, non-website ticket purchase, itinerary changes, confirmed same-day standby, booking fees for frequent flier redemptions, and more. And now, budget carrier Spirit Airlines announced they would begin charging up to $45 for any bags placed in overhead bins, making them the first of the major U.S. airlines to charge for carry-ons. Unfortunately airlines' à la carte "convenience fees" may just be the tip of the iceberg for a drowning industry trying to stay afloat amid increasing shortfalls, including an 18-percent drop in 2009 passenger revenue alone.

"The airline industry hasn't made money since the Wright Brothers," jokes George Hobica, creator and president of airfarewatchdog.com. Hobica thinks "passengers already accept that if they carry on their own bags because they packed light they shouldn't pay the fuel and labor costs for the guy bringing home a new TV as a Christmas gift." What they do hate is paying for things that really don't cost the airlines what the airlines are charging. "Passengers have a tough time justifying the extra cost for a seat assignment," says Uri Argov, President and CEO of LastMinuteTravel.com. "It demonstrates greed as it really does not cost the airline any additional expenditures, whereas a meal or another tangible service does." On the other hand, Hobica admits, "More passengers are getting used to paying for what they, not other people, use -- just as you wouldn't pay for a drink at the table next to you in a restaurant." He likens it to people having no problem paying for a better seat at a Broadway musical, so why should they complain about paying for an exit row seat on a plane with extra legroom?

A recent survey from Consumer Reports found that fees were the top two biggest complaints Americans had about air travel. The magazine asked 2,000 travelers to rate their gripes about flying on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the most annoying. Luggage charges topped the list at 8.4, while the catch-all phrase "added fees" weighed in second with a ranking of 8.1.

What it comes down to is that the fare passengers originally see can turn out to be not such a great deal after all. "Baggage fees also add up quickly and can be very detrimental to a family traveling on vacation," says Uri Argov, president and CEO of LastMinuteTravel.com, "which ultimately triggers the comparison of driving versus flying." Airlines seem to be following the cruise ship model of luring passengers with low fares then tempting them with extras like spa treatments, shopping, and the casino. "Airlines will likely roll out options in the future like selling DVDs in-flight, having concierge service in first class, and pre-selling in-flight food and beverage vouchers," says Harvey Alpert, founder of Brand in the Hand, a company that sells third-party advertising to several airlines on in-flight snack bags (the latest: Hilton Garden Inn's new "Cooked-to-Order" meals on Delta).

The bottom line is, no one is happy about all those fees. A recent TripAdvisor poll found that 36 percent of flyers brought only carry-on bags, 39 percent now fly only airlines that don't charge baggage fees, and 91 percent said they would not pay $8 for a pillow on a flight. Department of Transportation statistics showed U.S. air travel numbers plunged to new lows in 2009. The truth is, the airlines feel your pain. The industry is in freefall dealing with its own set of new fees and surcharges, including sky-high labor and fuel costs, CO2 emission taxes, airport passenger facility and improvement fees, security taxes, and other expenses.

On the plus side, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 currently before Congress provides more than $70 billion for the FAA's programs, including $16.2 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, nearly $13.4 billion for facilities and equipment, $1.35 billion for research, engineering and development, and $38.9 billion for FAA operations through 2012. But that money has to come from somewhere. There are also TSA-imposed security taxes that will probably more than double by 2014 and FAA segment taxes, part of which aim to lower the $2 trillion national deficit.

The bleak picture for consumers is a 10- to 12-percent fare increase in 2011 just to offset these government-imposed surcharges. But for airlines to become at all profitable, a 17 percent figure is likelier, according to Vaughn Cordle, chief analyst for AirlineForecasts.com. He estimates that the industry loses almost $9 per enplaned passenger when it needs to earn $18. That $27 shortfall on average over the past decade, especially given that airlines are struggling under massive debt post-restructuring and must compete in fare wars (which may result in survival-mode consolidation, perhaps bankruptcies), helped trigger the "desperate necessity to nickel-and-dime passengers with as many extra surcharges as possible, as well as seek out more creative means of increasing income," according to Cordle. He also notes that 70 percent of labor contracts are up for renegotiation this summer and unions want to reverse the post-9/11 rollbacks, which could lead to a $3 billion to $6 billion increase in labor costs. Yet significant cost hikes (or a lengthy strike) may bankrupt airlines like American with more senior staffers, unwieldy under-funded pension plans, and huge benefit/healthcare minimum annual payments. Cordle's outlook on fuel costs isn't any sunnier. He estimates fuel costs "will average $80 a barrel this year and $84 in 2011 with a potential spike to $100 or more." That would increase industry expenses by $6.4 billion. Proposed cap-and-trade carbon taxes could cost airlines another $4 billion.

So what's the other option besides raising fares and tacking on fees (see our chart below to find out what you can expect to pay on some major carriers if you want to check a bag or grab a pillow)? Check out our sidebar, where we asked real travelers to weigh in with their suggestions.

	American	Continental	Delta	JetBlue	Southwest	United	US Airways	Virgin America
Booking Fees (on phone/in person)	$20/$30	$20	$20/$35	$15	$0	$25/$30	$25-$35 / $35-$45	$15/$10
Seat Selection (one-way)	N/A	Prices vary	N/A	$10 for extra legroom	$10 for priority boarding	$9 and up for Economy Plus	$5 and up for aisle or window towards front	$35 and up for Main Cabin Select
Ticket Change	$150	$150	$150	$100	$0	$150	$150	$75 ($50 online)
First Bag (online/at airport)	$25	$23/$25	$23/$25	$0	$0	$23/$25	$20/$25	$25
Second Bag (online/at airport)	$35	$32/$35	$32/$35	$30	$0	$32/$35	$30/$35	$25
Blanket and Pillow	$8	$0	$0	$7	N/A	$0	$7 (includes mask and earplugs)	$12 (includes mask and earplugs)

Note: All prices are based on domestic economy flights and are subject to change.

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Are Cruises Ruining the World?

Jordan Simon — 2010-05-05T17:17:00+00:00

Filed under: Cruise

Port of Charleston

Much has been said about the awe-inspiring Oasis of the Seas: it's the largest cruise ship ever at 225,282 gross tons and can carry 8,600 people including passengers and crew. To put that into perspective, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that a weeklong sailing requires 700 tons of supplies (including a whopping 20 tons of maraschino cherries) and 20,000 pieces of linens need to be washed every day to outfit the cabins and dining rooms. Which begs the question: With cruise ships getting bigger and bigger, what kind of impact are they having on the environment?

An investigation by the environmental group Friends of the Earth that appeared in The New York Times found that a one-week voyage on a large ship produces an estimated 210,000 gallons of sewage, a million gallons of graywater (runoff from sinks, baths, showers, laundry and galleys), 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, 11,550 gallons of sewage sludge and more than 130 gallons of hazardous wastes. Watchdog organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund catalog the industry's slick trail of spills and discharge violations from the Antarctic to Aegean Seas. The current state and federal laws permit cruise ships to dump untreated sewage (that environmental advocates claim may affect both human and marine life) once a ship is just three nautical miles from shore.

Terminal Velocity

Rejuvenating decrepit, even dangerous harbor-fronts is nothing new. Monterey's Cannery Row, Tampa's Channelside, and Manhattan's Battery Park City remain shining examples of urban renewal, luring locals back to formerly derelict areas with shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

Charleston's ambitious Union Pier Plan will redevelop 63 acres of waterfront in the middle of downtown with a new cruise terminal that reflects the character of historic Charleston while mitigating existing traffic. The project also calls for removing 600,000 square feet of industrial warehouse space, demolishing the current cargo and cruise terminal, and restoring more than a half mile of natural shoreline. The crumbling 19th-century Bennett Rice Mill facade will also be renovated as a backdrop for an amphitheater incorporated into a public park. Also on the wish list is rethinking the currently tourist-oriented market, dead on non-cruise days, into one more appealing to locals (think Seattle's Pike Place).

The plan will take years to complete, of course, and work on the new terminal is scheduled to being in early 2011.

Environmentalists worry that U.S. regulations provide loopholes through which waste can ooze. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) concedes that past violations served as an important wake-up call, focusing industry efforts on improving environmental procedures and closely monitoring onboard activities to ensure compliance. Cruise lines operate within a stringent, comprehensive scheme of environmental standards set by the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization. MARPOL (short for marine pollution) was ratified by some 90 nations including the U.S. and sets strict standards for all commercial vessels to prevent ship-generated pollution from oil, garbage, and waste. There is also an "Emission Control Area" within 230 miles of the North American coast, requiring ships to use cleaner fuels while transiting and docked. The new restrictions will cut fuel sulfur levels by 98 percent, fine particulate matter emissions by 85 percent, and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution by 80 percent.

Many federal agencies are also tasked with oversight, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the CDC, as well as independent entities such as the EPA, not to mention state, municipal, and port authorities. Enforcement mechanisms of federal and international pollution laws include routine random Coast Guard boarding inspections to ensure compliance. Satellite surveillance, vessel tracking, and aerial reconnaissance augment these measures. Coastal states such as Alaska, California, and Florida supplement federal legislation with their own regulatory enforcement. In addition each ship files an internationally mandated Safety Management System that is auditable, inspectable, and enforceable by classification societies.

The biggest concerns come from the areas around the ports where these cruise ships dock. "Most cities want the business but residents worry about hot-button environmental implications, which should be a concern but not a hysterical concern," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com. "I'm not an apologist but the changes made in stewardship have been astonishing." CruiseCritic.com reported that in the past decade alone, cruise ships have cut waste and garbage almost in half, while recycling more than many communities, despite cruise capacity averaging 7.6% annual growth. Since 2005, cruise lines have spent an average of $2 million per ship on new environmental technologies and retrofits. According to CLIA, those improvements include everything from hulls designed to reduce drag to window tinting to lessen the need for air conditioning to water-saving low-flow toilets.

This fight between environmental advocates and the cruise industry is coming to a head in Charleston, South Carolina. For the genteel southern city, the double-barreled 2010 assault of Celebrity Cruises' re-entrance and Carnival's decision to base the 2,056-passenger Fantasy in the port year-round triggered broadsides from the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League (SCCCL), who are worried about the impact on the local environment as well as aesthetics. The SCCCL decries the cruise industry's poor history of environmental compliance, noting that Carnival and Celebrity rank among the worst offenders. In 2009, 39 Celebrity and Carnival ships were cited for environmental violations around the country; over the past decade both companies incurred heavy fines for dumping untreated waste and other pollutants. More violations, according to CruiseJunkie.com, include deliberate falsification of discharge records and installation of equipment to bypass pollution controls.

On the other side of the debate is the South Carolina State Ports Authority. The SCSPA says they are responding to calls from local activists. They aim to decrease port-related emissions through partnerships with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, as well as 23 private companies and associations. The group initiated a voluntary anti-idling campaign to reduce vehicle emissions, agreed to evaluate the use of cleaner fuels, switched to ultra-low sulfur diesel three years ahead of federal mandate, and lobbied tenants and on-site partners to switch as well.

But what about other quality of life concerns, like preserving Charleston's intimate historic ambience and neighborhood integrity? "Each enormous cruise ship is like a wall looming against the skyline; you can see it from everywhere," says SCCCL Project Manager Katie Zimmerman. The SCCCL and Historic Charleston Foundation call for regulations to alleviate increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic and congestion, and to cap the size, height, and passenger capacity of ships. SCSPA spokesperson Byron Miller responds that a plan for a new terminal is in place (see sidebar) that will be modern but also reflect Charleston's distinctive characteristics. The terminal will be purposefully too small to accommodate mega ships and their many passengers. "It is being designed around a certain vessel class, with one berth, and a certain amount of support space and parking," says Miller. The port contracted for 67 cruises in 2010 (only 10 more than in 2005). Miller also cites statistics that cruise passengers and traffic will remain low. They expect 110,000 passengers to pass through, which is about three percent of Charleston's 4.1 million annual visitors. He adds that the market couldn't support larger ships with any regularity and most ships carry between 1,800 and 2,000 passengers.

Some would also argue that the ships would be a boon for the local economy, with a thousand or so passengers wandering around Charleston to shop for souvenirs and have lunch. In fact, an SCSPA-commissioned study estimates the total cruise-related economic output at more than $37 million for the Tri-County area, including jobs, taxes, and passenger business. But there's always a flipside. Zimmerman retorts that several economists and statisticians deem the study unspecific (and potentially misleading). She claims the SCSPA takes about one-third of that potential revenue and didn't quantify the costs of hosting cruise ships. "The problem with the rationale that cruise passengers comprise a low percentage of total visitors is that the Carnival and Celebrity ships are increasing crowds and pedestrian traffic without necessarily increasing the local revenue collected." Zimmerman says. She notes that cruises will charge passengers $50 for a typical $25 carriage tour, after negotiating with that company for an even lower rate in return for guaranteed business. "Will 'hit-and-run' cruise tourism displace our traditional tourism, causing typical visitors who definitely spend money in local hotels and restaurants to avoid the area while a cruise ship is in town?" she worries.

Another group that is keeping a close eye on the ships and their waste is the local seafood industry. Many of the city's top restaurants are focusing on local, sustainable seafood for their kitchens and no one wants to serve (or eat) contaminated products. When asked about this, Miller quotes a recent Charleston Post and Courier article in which Mel Bell, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources director of fisheries management, states that wastewater poses no risk to fish or people who eat local seafood, while human pathogens (like Norovirus) wouldn't affect marine life, which is also protected by seawater's sterilizing properties.

So where does that leave us? Cruise lines have arguably done more than any other industry to implement eco-friendly standards. And what does it matter if these admirable initiatives are accomplished for the wrong reasons (compelled by ever-stricter laws, economic feasibility, or countering bad publicity) as long as they produce the right results? As SCSPA's Miller says, "When hotels ask if you'll preserve the environment by reusing towels and sheets, do they really care or is it just sound fiscal practice to reduce laundry costs?" So no, the cruise lines aren't ruining the world. But that doesn't mean that tighter restrictions don't need to be enacted. It's a situation that needs to be kept under the microscope.

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To Fly or Not to Fly?

Jordan Simon — 2010-04-21T14:51:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel, Tips & Tricks

GiselaGiardino, flickr

It's one of the great debates in travel: Should you book plane tickets or load everyone in the car? Obviously there are places where driving is not an option (say there's an ocean in the way). But what if you are staying within the continental U.S. to take the kids to grandma's or a theme park, or you are making a getaway to a romantic resort or the big city? We put flying and driving up against each other in a battle royale, taking into account time, money, convenience, and safety. Both sides make persuasive arguments. Now you can be the judge. Tell us in the comments which you think is the winner.

Point: Flying is faster.
You don't need to have aced algebra to figure out that a plane going 500 miles per hour will arrive at its destination long before a car going 65 miles per hour. This is obviously a huge consideration on longer-haul flights, such as cross-country trips that mean five or six hours on a flight versus at least three days in a car (factoring in nightly motel stops). Traffic is also a consideration, particularly on holiday weekends. Ask anyone who has endured bumper-to-bumper Memorial Day traffic how many extra hours were added to the trip. And for families, the clock ticks more slowly with every "Are we there yet?"

Counterpoint: Driving is faster.
Flying isn't necessarily quicker, especially if you have to drive 45 minutes to the airport, get there two hours before your flight, and wait out a tarmac delay before finally getting into the air. And then when you do land it takes 20 minutes to get off the plane and of course your bag is the last one on the conveyor belt. Even if the skies are clear where you are and where you are going, that doesn't meant the plane you need isn't stuck somewhere with a weather delay. Mechanical problems and tardy crews can also add hours to the trip.

Point: Flying is cheaper.
Flying is generally more economical on long-haul routes, especially for singles or couples. You're not paying for lodging, three daily meals, or filling the tank (gas averaged $3 a gallon in March). Check out AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator, which gives you a rough idea of how much gas you will guzzle based on your departure and arrival destinations as well as the year, make and model of your car. You also have to consider the wear and tear to your car, unless you spend the extra money on a rental. Factor in oil changes and the affect a long trip has on the car's worth; odometer miles decrease the Blue Book value. Spending days in the car will also necessitate a good professional cleaning when you get home (spilled sodas, melted crayons, car sickness, etc). And even if you choose cheap motels, those nights along the way can really eat into your overall vacation budget.

Counterpoint: Driving is cheaper.
It's not worth flying when it costs $500 per person and takes four hours (including wait time) when driving costs $200 total and takes six hours. If you have the extra time, the savings (even after gas, food and lodging) could pay for those theme park tickets. And if you have four people that each checks a bag, those surcharges really add up. Then you have to factor in transport costs such as taxis to and from the airport or a rental car at your destination. George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com, sums it up this way: "Drive if it's under 400 miles or eight hours of highway driving and the fare is over $300, more so if you're transporting a lot of baggage and more than one person."

Point: Flying is more convenient.
With flying you get on the plane and go -- no GPS required. Flying also makes the most sense if you're visiting a large city like New York or Chicago with an extensive public transit system or if you stay in a centrally located hotel with lots to do within walking distance. Parking rates can also be astronomical (hotels in New York charge upwards of $50 a day for valet parking). Plus the chances of your plane breaking down halfway through are slim. Blowing a tire by driving over a pothole and spending an hour on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck is much more likely.

Counterpoint: Driving is more convenient.
Driving is the most flexible form of transportation since you are on your own timetable. "There's no worrying about advance booking or paying change fees if you have to alter your plan," says Anne Banas, Executive Editor of SmarterTravel.com. "And it's often better for spur-of-the-moment trips." It can cost in excess of $100 per person to change a ticket, says Hobica. Plus you can detour to that nifty restaurant or oddball attraction, not to mention being able to take in the scenery that is usually below the clouds when you are at 35,000 feet. Parents will also find that the kids have more room to spread out in the back with games, portable DVD players, and iPods to keep them entertained. And if you are on the way to the beach there's no way you are going to check umbrellas, chairs, snorkeling equipment, and coolers. You can bring all you need and save on rental fees.

Point: Flying is safer.
Banas notes that flying is statistically safer than driving. You've probably heard the expression "You're more likely to die on the way to the airport than on your flight." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 37,261 automobile fatalities in 2008 (WHO's annual analysis places the number at 1.3 million worldwide); those numbers increase over holidays when many travelers choose between driving and flying. Meanwhile, according to CNN and USA Today, U.S. carriers listed zero deaths in 2007 and 2008, despite transporting more than a billion passengers. The fatigue factor is also a huge consideration when traveling on long stretches of open highway. Studies have found that driving while extremely tired can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence.

Counterpoint: Driving is safer (for some).
The pro-driving team concedes that humans are safer in planes. But if you are traveling with a pet it may be safer to go in the car. "Never put a pet in the cargo hold," cautions Hobica. "No matter what anyone says it's dangerous, especially in summer." Airlines did not have to report incidents of the death, injury, or loss of an animal until 2005, but the information is now available via the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement. A search finds that four pets died in September 2009 alone. To be fair, only 1% of pets that go into the cargo hold do not come out in the same shape they went in. But that's little solace when trying to explain to the kids that Baxter isn't joining them on the beach after all.

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Top 10 Rules We Wish Airlines Would Enforce

Jordan Simon — 2010-04-01T12:51:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

Aaron Escobar, flickr

Have you ever had to sit next to a loud, drunk or just plain smelly passenger? How about in front of a shrieking kid who won't stop kicking your seat right where your chiropractor just performed an adjustment? How about one of those people who immediately recline their seat and keep it there -- even through meal service (if the airlines are even serving meals anymore)? Don't you wish there was a law against that? In an ideal world there would be. To wit, we put together a list of 10 commandments we would put into effect if we ruled the world (or at least the friendly skies).Some of the onus is on the airlines themselves, of course, but many of them require passengers to observe both etiquette and a smidgen of common courtesy. So let's be a little more thoughtful out there. Anything else you'd like to make part of the airline bible? Tell us in the comments below.

1. Passengers shall place their carry-on bags in the overhead bin directly above their seat.
It's so frustrating to book a seat towards the front of the plane hoping to make a quick getaway, only to find the compartments above your seat are full. That means either waiting for everyone else to get off the plane or fighting your way upstream like a salmon to find your bag that ended up back about 15C. Passengers should be required to use the space allotted for their seat, and that's it. Strictly enforcing rules about what passengers bring on the plane would also mean fewer flight delays, gate checks, stewards barking orders, and attempts by passengers to hoist carry-ons that they physically can't carry on. "I'm always hearing that readers think airlines should severely limit carry-on luggage," says Anne Banas of SmarterTravel.com. "Or better yet, reward those passengers willing to travel light with perks like priority boarding and deplaning."

2. Drunk passengers shall not be allowed to board.
Give the gate agents breathalyzer machines and bar anyone over the limit. If you don't think it's a big problem, it is. Intoxication causes both disruptions and flight diversions. One inebriated United Airlines passenger defecated on a First Class serving cart in plain view then tracked his poop through the main cabin. In January, NORAD dispatched two F-16 fighter jets to escort an AirTran flight because an unruly and over-indulged passenger refused to leave the toilet. Thousands of dollars and manpower were wasted, not to mention that the flight was delayed hours while the FBI questioned all passengers. A recent United Airlines DC-Vegas flight was also diverted to Denver after an allegedly drunk and disorderly passenger tried to open the cockpit door (nothing more embarrassing than appearing on the evening news and YouTube). It's for your own good, too, since interfering with flight crews can mean up to 29 years in prison and a million-dollar fine.

3. Airlines shall tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
We demand transparency in politics and finance, why not in aviation? It starts with the hidden surcharges. Airlines should be required to clearly list all in-flight fees (food, headsets, WiFi) up front on its website. The new Passenger Bill of Rights is a start, but we need a real explanation about the flight delays. Is the crew late because of a fender-bender, or just a bender (last year, both a United and an American Airlines pilot allegedly failed breath tests)? Admit when minor malfunctions are major -- and that they should have been repaired the night before. Tell us as soon as you know we'll have to go into a holding pattern and why. And as Banas comments, stop padding the itinerary so you can boast about on-time arrival. We are on to you.

4. All children shall have their own seat.
Children under the age of two are usually allowed to fly sitting on a parent's lap free of charge. Tempting for parents on a budget, but the thought of a squirmy infant with nowhere to go for three hours is not exciting. And what if there is extreme turbulence, or even worse, a crash landing? We say parents should have to purchase tickets (at a steep discount, in our perfect world) and should also be required to bring a government-approved car seat both as restraint and for the child's safety. And parents, we get that kids have sensitive eardrums (hence the squalling), but stop the seat kicking already. In fact, let's confine families to one section. Gadling.com's Annie Scott suggests, only half-kidding, putting families behind a soundproof barrier with formal kicking wall. Not a bad idea.

5. Passengers shall not violate the personal space of others.
This seems to be the most controversial commandment of all. TripAdvisor recently asked 3,200 travelers to air their biggest plane gripes and nearly 75 percent responded that large travelers should be required to buy two tickets. United and Continental already mandate buying an extra "air-besity" seat, as does Southwest, despite the Kevin Smith PR tummy ache (the director and carrier weren't a good fit). But even if your width stays within the confines of a conventional airline seat, you're still crammed in like a sardine. So we urge airlines to restore shrinking legroom back to the masses. Only JetBlue (and to a lesser extent, other value carriers) ensures passenger comfort in steerage. If we look at it from purely a safety standpoint, studies have found that minimum legroom standards help safeguard against blood clots, a potentially fatal risk for those spending lengthy immobile periods in cramped quarters. We also make the controversial call for eliminating reclining seats. Sure you should be able to eke out any bit of comfort you can, but that doesn't matter to the person behind you that is trying to work on a laptop or do something crazy like eat without getting crushed to death.

6. Passengers shall have proper hygiene.
Cleanliness is even closer to godliness at 30,000 feet, especially in a confined airplane with recycled air. Speaking of feet, don't allow passengers to remove smelly shoes and socks. Install antiseptic cleansers throughout the plane, not just at the lavatory. And have products like deodorant available for funky travelers who smell like they ran a marathon. The rule of thumb should be: if you can smell passengers from 10 feet away, ban them!

7. Airlines shall thoroughly clean the planes.
There's a reason health professionals often cite aircrafts as virtual petri dishes, incubating illness despite the HEPA air recycling filters. Yes, we know there's never enough turnover time and it's an unpleasant task. But collecting plastic cups, fast-food wrappers, and newspapers isn't sufficient. Change every seat-back doily, spray disinfectant throughout the plane, and really scrub the lavatory. And we'd appreciate it if you would check the seats and seatback pockets for chewed gum (a violation we have encountered -- twice).

8. Passengers shall keep the noise down.
If your seatmate can hear the music coming from your headphones, it's too loud. Period. Flight attendants should confiscate obnoxious flight DJs' gear and remind them to remove headsets instead of shouting over the music, unaware of the decibel level. While we're at it, just because you can use your cell phone while we are taxiing to the gate doesn't mean we need to hear every detail of where you're going to meet your ride. Same goes for your personal life, business deals, or the latest National Enquirer gossip.

9. Airlines shall institute dual boarding.
This is already done on some larger international flights, but imagine how much easier it would be if people could board using both the front and back of the plane. There'd be less jamming the aisles (another persistent threat to on-time departures). As a corollary, notes Banas, people who attempt to board out of their "zone" or before their row number is called should be publicly shamed and sent to the back of the boarding line.

10. Passengers with tight connections shall always be allowed to deplane first.
Really. The loudspeaker announcement requesting people to be polite just doesn't hack it. Keep the seatbelt sign on and escort those passengers off first. Then you won't be holding planes for passengers delayed on other flights. To us that's a win-win situation. And the crew should call ahead to the connecting flight and ensure the passenger can board (even if the bags don't). Every once in a while, a sympathetic flight attendant will go out of their way to make sure people get where they need to go, but think how much nicer it would be if this was law.

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World's Sexiest Beaches

Jordan Simon — 2010-03-14T15:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach, Best Of

Lisa Tancsics, Wikimedia Commons

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Worlds Sexiest Beaches

What is sexy? Well, when it comes to beaches, determining the sexiest in the world is a difficult, albeit stimulating, task. What we looked for was dramatic landscapes like mountainous lush landfalls formed by volcanic eruption, an accretion of crushed coral the color and consistency of confectioner's sugar, and surroundings carved by receding glaciers clawing the earth in their wake. The most obvious candidates augment their scenic natural beauty with sensuous clientele, sybaritic resorts, and sassy sultry nightlife. You've seen their (in)famous celeb scenes regularly depicted in People and InStyle.

But it isn't all just sun, sand and sex. They all have equally alluring but less frenzied strands nearby that exude a sea-scent and sensuality as potent as pheromones. These remote beaches are where you'll want to go for a little alone time to drink in those natural surroundings without an audience. So grab your towel, and your thong, and get ready to sashay down the world's sexiest beaches.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

Until recently the only Westerners at this once isolated, mountainous landfall were trippin' hippies and burnt-out Trust-afarians fleeing the rat race. Koh Samui was Eden reborn: home to bacchanalian seafood feasts for a buck and free hammocks slung between palms. Now hipsters flock to posh pampering resorts from Four Seasons to Anantara, and expats prepare a U.N. of gastronomic options. It also increasingly offers Thailand's infamously diverse nightlife. Chaweng and Lamai are the liveliest, with entertainment options from lurid to luxe along both their beach and town main drags. Given Lamai's rowdy rep, Hin Ta and Hin Yai appropriately rise nearby. The so-called Grandfather and Grandmother Stones are granite rock formations eroded into erotic shapes resembling male and female genitalia.

Steal Away: Ang Thong National Marine Park is unspoiled yet easily accessible via speedboat or ferry. The park comprises a 42-island archipelago: wild, whimsically sculpted limestone massifs blanketed with virgin rainforest rising from lapis waters. Nearby the setting for Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach, Koh Samui also features large cliff-side caves and glorious beaches where you feel no one has ever set foot, as well as snorkeling, diving, and kayaking.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

Everyone, straight and gay, should experience artsy anything-goes P-Town, located where the tip of Cape Cod curls like a tongue stuck out at convention. Part of the protected Cape Cod National Seashore, its miles of ivory-hued sands are backed by towering scrub-blanketed dunes, curvaceous as Rubens' nudes. Herring Cove is arguably the raciest strand, but the more secluded Head of the Point, Race Point and Long Point Beaches lure nature buffs with seal and whale sightings. The town itself offers quaint 19th-century B&Bs, galleries, and even dynamic discos for people-watching.

Steal Away: A quick ferry ride away, Martha's Vineyard offers Victorian architecture and a rugged coastline that includes Gay Head Point, a national landmark comprised of a 1799 brick lighthouse and 130-foot ruddy, fossil-embroidered cliffs. Seek out Moshup, one of four tranquil beaches in the town of Aquinnah. Families gather near the wooden boardwalk marking the entrance, but as you stroll down the shore, people (and clothes) become scarcer; large rocks permit strategically private sunbathing if you're shy.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

Ever since the 1956 film And God Created Woman with Brigitte Bardot frolicking in the frothy surf caused an international sensation, St. Tropez has been synonymous with ooh-la-lasciviousness. The French daily Figaro once noted St. Tropez in summer presents "the greatest number of famous faces per square meter," and it's not uncommon to see Bono or Beyoncé catching some rays. There's a reason this ultimate hotbed-on-the-beach is nicknamed Trop, which means "too much." Movers, shakers and chic tabloid fodder shimmy to the latest beats between impromptu champagne showers, compare the size of their... yachts, and shed inhibitions as easily as Manolo flip-flops at beach bars like Tahiti Beach, Le Voile Rouge, and Club 55 along the ravishing Bay of Pampelonne.

Steal Away: If you just wish to soak up the soleil, sans bubbly, the Îles d'Or (Golden Isles) of Porquerolles, Levant, and Port Cros beckon. You can hike from unspoiled fishing villages to hidden coves in the shadow of steep stunning cliffs scented with heather and citrus trees. They embrace Europe's first protected marine reserve, offering spectacular underwater pyrotechnics, including some of the Mediterranean's best wreck diving.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

Despite its scenic splendor, the island of Mykonos didn't inspire many famous Greek myths, but international college students (and the eternally young-at-heart) have made this clothing-optional strand fronting water rippling from turquoise to tourmaline a legendary nonstop party. Its vibrant beach bars (transformed into nightclubs after dark) put the sin in scintillating, with sunbathers gyrating atop tables well into the wee hours.

Steal Away: We love Santorini's Red Beach (so named for the ruddy volcanic rock), but it's often hot in more ways than one. Instead try Almira or Armeni, both best reached by boat or donkey, offering gorgeous water, classic blue-and-white buildings, and humble tavernas where you can wash down fresh grilled fish with homemade wine.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

You know that famous ditty about "The Girl From..." whose sultry beat helped accompany the 60s sexual revolution? Well, you'll find high-calorie Carioca eye candy at this beach that practically popularized the dental-floss bikini for both genders. Ipanema (and Rio itself) is a party-hearty spot year-round, the bars' sensuous samba rhythms answering the soft susurrus of surf and thwock of soccer balls, all in the shadow of the majestic Sugarloaf Mountain.

Steal Away: Equally renowned Copacabana also hits a high note with pretty people in G-strings, so head to Barra da Tijuca, a mecca for kite-boarders and windsurfers. It's arguably Rio's cleanest, safest beach and given its 11-mile length, there are plenty of isolated spots even when local families descend on weekends.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

This long sensuous nudist strand redefines "ocean view." It's a surreal scene: passing cruise ships snap the gorgeous Gallic twenty-somethings and grandmères letting it all hang out. But you needn't shed your bathing suit or inhibitions. This buoyant beach jumps with bands, bistros and crêperies, vendors, vendeuses de la plage (swimwear models whose impromptu shows put the tease back in striptease), and water sports from waterskiing to windsurfing. Anything goes, yet some sections are surprisingly family-friendly, and you can always hire a boat to the charming nearby islets.

Steal Away: Many people fly or take the ferry for a day trip to tony St. Barth's, a longtime haunt of real and reel royalty that is accustomed to voyeurs and exhibitionists (that buzz in season is not mosquitoes, but shutterbugs). The famed hotel strands rim the north coast, but the more secluded southern cove of Anse du Gouverneur is the color of Cristal champagne and just as apt to make you feel giddy. Here, too, you'll find buff bodies in the buff.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

This is one of the premier spots to watch bronzed Aussie lifeguards in training, a nonstop episode of Baywatch. The Oz answer to Waikiki is celebrated for its equally active surf and scene. It's one of the world's ultimate spots to hang ten and hang out. You can easily get swept up in the trendy cafes and chic boutiques along its Campbell Parade, but there are some lovely surrounding coastal walks and parklands down to charming Coogee.

Steal Away: Sydney's Northern Beaches, all easily accessible by car or ferry, are generally quieter past bustling Manly (yes, it lives up to its name, too), with Freshwater and Curl Curl among our faves. You can even visit national parks or pet koalas just 30 minutes from Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

This Art Deco haven remains a hotbed of cool activity and celeb watching, hip-hopping and happening 24/7. You might see Gloria Estefan, Madonna, A-Rod, and other homeowners cavorting, as well as fashion and film shoots. The best place to watch the partying parade is the sidewalk patio of News Cafe. It's just as alive at dawn as it is at noon: Goth club kids straggle from their lairs, models walk their pooches, and even a few older residents brandish their canes at the scene.

Steal Away: Haulover Beach may be a stretch, but we have to praise this sparkling example of urban renewal, one of the few county-run government-sanctioned nudity beaches in the U.S and sunbathers run the gamut of ages, shapes and sizes (augmented and au naturel). It's possible to find some less-populated areas to sit back and enjoy the rays. The surrounding, family-friendly park boasts plentiful recreational activities, WiFi, and way-cool public bathrooms (shaped like leviathan cruise ship smokestacks painted with stripes).

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

The glorious western stretch running up to Holetown is nicknamed the Platinum Coast for its exclusive high-priced high-class but low-key resorts (The House, Sandy Lane, Coral Reef Club, Mango Bay) and high-maintenance clientele. The A-list makes a beeline here during winter, when the beach seems like one celeb after another like Simon Cowell, Hugh Grant, and Mariah Carey are all discreetly people-watching themselves or bending the Beckhams' ears in glam eateries like Daphne's, the Cliff or the Lone Star.

Steal Away: On the south coast, Crane Beach is equally hopping, especially for surfers who dig the swells of another sort. But there are more serene pockets beneath its dramatic cliffs where you can enjoy a cozy picnic.

Worlds Sexiest Beaches

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Are Budget Airlines in Danger of Disappearing?

Jordan Simon — 2010-02-26T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel, News

James Wang, flickr

On a recent flight, as we landed, the pilot cheerily announced, "Thank you for flying Southwest. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride." That joke has been recycled more times than the plane's cabin air.

Southwest is revered (and occasionally reviled) for its humorous cabin crews and boarding announcements. But what is no laughing matter is the turmoil airlines have seen in the last year, leaving passengers facing sudden surcharges, canceled routes, and reduced perks as even the most established airlines shift into survival mode.

But rather than going the way of the flightless dodo, budget carriers are instead meeting the challenges by undergoing an evolutionary adaptation. "They are morphing more toward traditional airlines," says industry analyst Vaughn Cordle of AirlineForcasts.com. "But just because they're moving toward that direction doesn't mean they'll change the cost structure."

Spin is everything in the airline industry where the word "budget" carries a pejorative connotation, suggesting cutting corners alongside costs. Which is why airlines like JetBlue prefer the more positive descriptor "value." But what constitutes value? JetBlue and other low-cost carriers Southwest, Virgin America, AirTran, Frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant have learned that passengers want not just cheap fares but a superior overall experience that includes courteous customer service, an above-average on-time arrival and safety records, and more innovative frills (whether they have to pay extra for them or not).

Which partly explains why these discount airlines experienced stratospheric growth in the past decade: They now control nearly one-third of the domestic air travel market, triple their share in 1999, according to M.I.T's Airline Data Project. To stanch the bleeding, legacy carriers such as Delta, American, United, Continental, US Airways have reduced flights in most markets, even going as far as closing hubs. Yet scaling back means less convenient schedules for their loyal customers and enables the low-cost carriers to expand their routes. The increase in available flights in addition to their low operating costs allows them to produce profits, which the mainliners can't do consistently.

While the airline industry lost $50 billion over the past decade according to the International Air Transport Association, Southwest alone earned $3.7 billion. Even though Cordle estimates that Southwest lost money in 2009 for the first time since 1972, he notes that the airline still increased its market share and added routes. The fact that they have the largest domestic fleet of any airline and the most daily coast-to-coast flights doesn't hurt either. "Their growth has allowed them to dictate ticket prices," says Cordle. "They're the price maker, the others are price-takers." It's a no-win situation for legacy carriers. If they don't follow Southwest's lead, they lose traffic, market shares, and eventually money. If they match, they lose money upfront. Any wonder they pile on the sky-high surcharges?

Traditional perceptions of the low-cost carrier as a basic no-frills airline have also shifted. Virgin America compensates for its small fleet and fewer routes with onboard technology: leather seats with power outlets, mood-lit cabins, inflight internet, and a video touch-screen in every seatback that provides movies, live TV, videogames, an iPod-worthy music list, and seat-to-seat chat. Their on-demand food ordering is the wave of the future, part of an à la carte pricing structure that enables fliers to choose which perks they want, satisfying both passengers and the board of directors' bottom line. VA also instituted premium coach seating, which includes a checked bag, all movies, food and beverages, even alcohol, and offers last-minute upgrades for mere peanuts. Besides in-seat televisions and unlimited snacks, JetBlue has wider-than-standard seats and three more inches of legroom than other airlines. Southwest lacks inflight entertainment - save the jocular crews - but is now testing inflight WiFi. They also installed leather seats with above-average pitch, albeit narrower than most of their low-cost competitors (see the PR stomachache that was director Kevin Smith's supposed air-besity incident).

"So-called value and budget airlines have certain advantages that allow them to offer perks that the 'legacy' carriers can't," says George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.org. "They might have younger jet fleets and one or at most two aircraft types, which means fewer delays and mechanical problems." Indeed, Southwest uses only one aircraft type, the Boeing 737, which simplifies both maintenance and training, minimizing operating costs and increasing safety. JetBlue also has a fleet of new Airbus A320s and E190s aircraft, a more efficient model that keeps fuel and maintenance costs down. The focus on streamlined procedures allows low-cost carriers to maintain tight schedules. In fact, many of the top-ranked U.S. airlines for on-time service are smaller discounters, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.

Also keeping prices down, a business model emulated by low-cost carriers around the globe, is the fact that these airlines fly multiple trips with rapid turnaround into the secondary airports of major markets (Midway rather than Chicago O'Hare, Love Field rather than Dallas-Fort Worth International, et al.), that usually charge lower "rental" fees. Smaller regional airports also allow shorter taxi times and fewer delays for landing slots.

And they keep their customers happy. Costs are upfront, straightforward. User-friendliness is emphasized. In 2009, JetBlue ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America" by J.D. Power and Associates for the sixth consecutive year. Southwest has consistently recorded the lowest ratio of complaints per passengers boarded since the Department of Transportation began tracking Customer Satisfaction statistics in 1987. They also listen to their passengers. Countering criticism of the "cattle call" no-seat-assignment policy, Southwest implemented a tiered boarding structure and recently adopted a new system whereby passengers may pay an extra $10 for automatic "EarlyBird Check-in" 36 hours in advance. Southwest's current ad campaign also touts their no-charge policy for the first two bags checked, contrary to other airlines. "The $500 million in baggage fees Southwest could raise is offset by luring more customers and increasing load factors," says Cordle. "The strategy paid off."

But trade-offs still exist. Low-cost carriers can't compete with international routes and airline partnerships that increase frequent flyer appeal. Southwest's Rapid Rewards program makes it easy to earn a free flight, but points don't rollover from year to year. Few offer Business or First Class (only AirTran and Spirit do). And, despite expansion, their networks remain limited compared to the Big Five.

So are budget airlines disappearing? Maybe not, but with the increased pressure they put on the competition, maybe it will be passengers that have the last laugh. For now.

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Not Loyal Yet? Our Guide to Becoming a Frequent Flyer

Jordan Simon — 2010-02-02T15:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel, Tips & Tricks

nostri-imago, flickr

Few of us will compile 10 million frequent flyer miles like George Clooney's ruthless but dashing corporate downsizer in Up in the Air. And frankly, 100 percent free tickets and upgrades are increasingly difficult to obtain. But the programs won't be grounded, because trillions of miles have gone unredeemed, and airlines generate billions of dollars from brand cross-promotions on anything from accommodations to "affinity" credit cards (today over half of mileage points are earned without flying). But how to select the right rewards program?They're more similar than not. The minimum mileage level redemption for a roundtrip is almost uniformly 25,000 (or its points equivalent). All programs offer "elite" status benefits to their most loyal customers. Larger "legacy" airlines partner or codeshare with international carriers, where you can also earn, and often redeem, miles (though most sneakily manage award availability).

But not all mileage clubs are equal. Read the fine print, which changes constantly: what routes will double-to-quadruple miles when; mileage expiration policy; airline alliances; redemption guidelines, including surcharges; blackout dates, seating limitations, and other loopholes; elite status perks; awards for non-travel activities. Consider bonus offers: free miles for signing up, booking on the airline website, taking product surveys like AOL's. Evaluate the strategic brand promotions offering miles/points (hotels-whose own loyalty programs like Hilton HHonors and Marriott Rewards accrue both miles and free nights, restaurants, car rentals, affinity credit/debit cards, shops, phone companies, DVD rentals, even utilities and mortgage lenders). Just ask famed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who earned 15 million miles by purchasing a Canaletto painting with his credit card for $15 million!

AirTran A+ Rewards
While the major legacy carrier programs boast more members (and similarities), smaller, more regional, carriers compensate through innovation. AirTran's generous program is gaining in popularity and prestige among mileage maniacs. Each one-way AirTran or Frontier flight equals one credit. You need eight points for a one-way coach ticket, 16 points for a one-way business class ticket, 4 points to upgrade a paid coach ticket, and 100 points for an annual companion pass. Co-branded partners include a Visa Signature, Hertz, SkyMall, various wireless services, and GPX trades at points.com. Since most AirTran flights are short-haul, the 16 points for a roundtrip freebie translates into as few as 9,600 miles flying (paid biz class nets a 50 percent bonus). It's rocketing in the Freddies (the frequent-flyer world's Oscars), ranking third-best "Americas" program and website.

Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Mileage Plan
This smaller airline looms large for business and global travelers: codeshare partners include OneWorld members American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, LAN, and Qantas; SkyTeam members Air France, KLM and Delta. Higher-tiered MVP and MVP Gold elite members receive increased travel benefits such as bonus mileage; priority boarding, seating, and airport lounge access; easier upgrades; even face-to-face executive meetings. Companions also receive this benefit, and members are given four complimentary upgrade certificates for guests annually. Partners include several car rentals (50 miles per day), Rewards Network restaurants, co-branded Bank of America cards (Diners Club also nets miles), 500 miles per stay at hotel chains from budget to luxury, realtors like Coldwell Banker, GCI telecommunications (bonus for enrolling or renewing on the airline website), and everything else from regional gas stations to groceries. It's a multiple Freddie winner for Program of the Year, Best Member Communications, Best Website (clean user-friendly design), annually takes Best Elite Level, and placed second in the Best Award Redemption, Customer Service, and Frequent Flyer Program categories.

American's AAdvantage
The first major frequent flyer program (debuting May 1981) remains the largest, with nearly 50 million members. American's partner list encompasses over 1,500 companies in the retail, financial, and service sectors: Dell to Direct TV, Lending Tree to Liberty Mutual, Netflix to Neiman Marcus. Activating your Blackberry smartly earns thousands of miles, as does subscribing to T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi access. That's in addition to the usual hotel, car rental, and restaurant suspects, as well as fellow oneworld alliance airlines. American helped pioneer the industry's one-stop-shopping cross-selling trend, positioning themselves as travel portals: book entire trips online with American Airlines Cruises or Marriott Vacation Club (bonus miles and convenience). AAdvantage members earn 500 bonus miles for hotels reserved on aa.com-but if you belong to a top-rated hotel loyalty program like Hilton HHonors, IHG Priority Club, or Marriott Rewards, you get the same price, bonus miles, and hotel points. American's also an industry leader in rewarding charitable donations, with miles for dollars contributed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and USO care packages. American even matches elite membership on other airlines if you meet certain requirements, and nabbed the 2009 Freddie Best Bonus Promotion for its double elite-qualifying miles offer, enabling quicker elite ascension and including special deals for existing elite-level members.

Continental OnePass
Members benefit from the Star Alliance, including United and US Airways on the home front (global carriers range from Air China to Lufthansa). Expanding domestic reward horizons maximizes chances to grab stingily allotted award seats, as opposed to redeeming even more miles with an unrestricted ticket or, gasp, paying. Higher fare class tickets earn up to 150 percent (or 1.5 points) toward elite qualifying miles, and Saturday-night stays are no longer required for reward travel. Purchasing tickets on Continental.com with any co-branded MasterCard nets 500 miles, while obtaining Continental's MasterCard (which carries its own benefits like President Club passes and discount vouchers) awards up to 25,000. You can also trade miles via GPX on points.com, transfer American Express Membership Rewards points (often for a redemption bonus), and boost your tally by staying with various hotel partners, book cruises online, rent cars, earn bonus miles at retail partners from Gap to Godiva, Office Max to Omaha Steaks, Target to TurboTax, and Wal-mart to Williams-Sonoma. It ranked third in several 2009 Freddie categories, signaling a major comeback: Member Communication, Award Redemption, and Program of the Year.

Delta Sky Miles
Delta consolidated Northwest WorldPerks accounts without mileage loss. While some routes were eliminated, the larger network makes earning miles easier, though its SkyTeam alliance is best for international travelers. Still, Delta won its first global-category Freddie: Best Elite Program. Delta permits elite "Medallion" members to rollover qualifying miles and offers unlimited free upgrades from any published fare, even award travel. Current offers include a 10-40 percent bonus for American Express Membership Rewards points transfers, triple miles for SkyMiles Cruises bookings, and frequent bonuses from SkyMiles mall partners (over 500 participating merchants) and on transfers to family and friends' SkyMiles accounts. In a growing trend, Delta presents four annual Online Auctions: your bid miles are the ticket to unique experiences, exclusive merchandise, and VIP event access. However, Delta's mileage expiration policy is one of the majors' worst (no activity in either 2 years or 12 consecutive months deletes your account); its new three-tier redemption policy likely means burning more miles on trips.

JetBlue TrueBlue
It's more how much you spend than how much you fly, since points are computed according to fares. You earn 6 points per dollar booking online (8 when purchasing flights with your branded JetBlue AmEx) and 100 points per Even-More-Legroom seat. Take 10 one-way long-haul flights in any 12-month period, gain 10,000 "Go Long" points. Exponential "Go Big" bonuses accrue after reaching specific thresholds (500 for 3,000 points; 1,000 for 6,000; 2,000 for 9,000, and so on). Blue goes (and earns) green if you transfer to Energy Plus, and human travelers earn 300 points for every JetPaws (pet travel) fee. TrueBlue exemplifies the trend of penalty-free one-way award travel, with flights starting at just 5,000 points. Points required vary depending on destination, day of the week, season, and advance booking window; longer-haul roundtrip redemption usually "costs" 15,000 miles (60 percent that of typical legacy lines). Unfortunately, booking flights and branded card transactions are the primary ways to earn credits: TrueBlue has few partners, including airlines (though Hertz offers double points, and increased options are promised). Points don't expire-just fly or use your card once every 12 consecutive months. There's no elite tier or services, but blackout dates and limited seat availability are banished.

Southwest Rapid Rewards
Many discount carriers emulate this program model, introduced in 1987, but changes apparently are afoot to compete with the full-service big boys, while retaining its celebrated user-friendliness. Perennial Freddie winner for Best Overall Award (recognizing top flexibility and value), Southwest has attained Best Award Redemption (ease of getting rewards) every year since the category's 1998 introduction. Members cite helpful, straightforward, up-to-date information (frequent Freddies for Best Communications and Best Website, with consistent top-three nods for Best Customer Service). Just 16 credits (eight roundtrips) earned within 24 consecutive months (otherwise you lose prior credits) gain a free flight; 32 (less on BusinessSelect fares) merit A-List status, including priority boarding and increased priority check-in/security lines. Though retail options are virtually nonexistent, partners (with frequent bonuses) include branded Visa, six rental car companies, several hotel chains, and a dining program. This is ideal for the carrier's core consumers, including short-haul business travelers and families, but as domestic-only Southwest lacks airlines partners, exotic experience-seekers won't benefit.

United Mileage Plus
United really rewards its frequenters (Premier level starts at 25,000 elite qualifying miles-or 30 annual segments, benefiting short-haul biz travelers), with priority check-in/boarding and leg-roomier Economy Plus seating, sans surcharge. Premier passengers net a 25 percent mileage bonus, Premier Execs and 1Ks a 100 percent bonus. They receive credit for each mile flown, with a minimum of 500 miles even on shorter segments (many airlines only offer 50 percent of flight miles on discounted and Web-fare tickets). In Spring 2010, United rolls out its "Unlimited Domestic Upgrade" program, automatically requesting space-available upgrades for all elites and a companion for travel within the continental U.S. plus Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean (top-tier still receive two complimentary confirmed quarterly regional upgrades). Elites will also be added to new Star Alliance partner Continental's upgrade list, and can request available premium seating from booking through check-in. However, United admits to occasional Starnet Blocking/Filtering-rendering already scarce seats on international partner flights virtually nonexistent for complex economic reasons. Conversely, there are no blackout dates and United frequently mounts limited-time promotions: Reduced Awards include booking restricted coach Hawaii tickets for 20 percent fewer miles, while Dining Program double miles means 10 miles per dollar spent, including tax and tip (you typically earn five miles per dollar after 12 qualifying transactions).

US Airways Dividend Miles
Since Dividend Miles was initiated before US Airways morphed into a discounter, it compares favorably to full-service programs, with Star Alliance membership and more than 100 mile-earning partners, including four MasterCards (business and consumers) and Visa debit card. Frequent promotions include the current retro online 1,500-mile booking bonus, and making holiday shopping even more hassle-free, as merchants offer more virtual mall miles (up to 250 percent per dollar at more than 20 participants, from Bose to Barnes & Noble). Unlike other discounters, most US Airways flights feature two-cabin service; elite members and a companion receive unlimited space-available upgrades on continental U.S. flights (instant when purchasing full-fare economy tickets), as well as free checked bags, bonus miles, "Choice seat" booking and priority standby (fee waived), lounge discounts, and more. However, you pay for the right to upgrade on international flights (another growing trend). The wild card-for the entire industry-is the new four-tier award levels based on season, day of week, and arbitrary allocations, which in most cases will burn more miles. Instead of saver (always few available seats) and standard redemptions, choose from "off peak" (below current Saver levels and available on some international routes), "low," "medium," and "high" everywhere (the latter level's transatlantic business class tickets cost a stratospheric 350,000 miles).

Virgin America Elevate
Elevate was created from scratch, incorporating the best elements of existing loyalty programs, as well as untraditional perks. As with TrueBlue you earn cold hard credits based on what you spend (5 points per dollar plus occasional bonuses), while points needed for award flights depend on the fare (average points "cost" is roughly 50 times the monetary value of the lowest-priced available seat). This transparently direct reward-market price correlation contrasts with an otherwise murky, complex system. Reward flights start as low as 2,100 points, and are completely unrestricted with no blackout dates or capacity controls. Virgin America has a co-branded credit card plus several hotel, car rental, and (soon) retail partners. No airlines, not even sister Virgin companies, are partners, which limits appeal for global gadabouts. And points expire after just 18 months of inactivity with no meter-reset provision.

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Are Airlines Going Too Far?

Jordan Simon — 2009-12-15T15:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel, News

We all know that the airline industry is in survival mode. Air carriers are struggling to stay afloat in the face of daunting fuel costs and plunging travel demand (in the last year, domestic carriers alone lost $11 billion).

In response, airlines are piling on the surcharges, pulling the "free" perks, and packing in extra seats. The real question is-are they going too far in their quest for efficiency?

Believe it or not, the airline industry even has a specific conference dedicated to "ancillary fees"-and how to collect these extras without inciting consumer revolt (in 2008 airlines extracted $10.25 billion in these surcharges worldwide-that's an increase of 346% over 2006). Some airlines, such as Europe-based Ryanair, have even suggested charging for restroom use (fortunately, that never came to pass).

Here, a look at some of the ways that airlines are pushing their luck with consumers.

Booking Fees
The gouging begins with booking. If you don't purchase tickets online via the airline website, you're instantly assessed a $5-$25 surcharge (the only exception is Southwest Airlines). Allegiant even forces you to buy your ticket at the airport. Want to change your itinerary? You'll be asked to cough up as much $150 on American, Continental, United and US Airways, plus any difference in fares between your new and old dates. Cheap, nonrefundable fare classes can't be altered at all, while discount tickets purchased through third-party travel sites or agents carry even greater penalties. Flying confirmed standby on the same day of travel used to be a complimentary courtesy. Now most airlines charge to take an earlier or later flight on the same day as your original flight if you want a confirmed seat (you can still take your chances without a confirmation for free).

Costly Miles
Frequent fliers beware-flying for free isn't as easy as it used to be either. Most airlines now assess a booking fee for frequent flyer mile redemption; reserving without sufficient notice (an outrageous 22 days on Delta) will cost even more. Higher mileage requirements recently went into effect, re-banking miles for unused tickets (even with advance notice) costs up to $100, most airlines won't even credit your account for flights under 500 miles, and American now charges moolah in addition to miles for upgrades. Same goes for any vouchers, which can't be booked online, which means that you're facing a phone surcharge.

Pre-Seat Selection
Want to select your steerage (ahem, economy) seats in advance? Air Canada, AirTran, and Allegiant now charge for this "perk." Then there's "preferred" seat selection, which means that if you'll be charged extra if you choose a seat near the front, a window, the aisle, or in a roomy exist row (depending on the route, JetBlue, Virgin America, and United charge upwards of $100 for this privilege). These seats are usually released 24 hours prior to a flight; if you want to nab one you'll need to check in early online. United has even turned "extra leg room" into an annual service, charging $299 for Economy Plus, which entitles you and a companion to seats with five inches of extra legroom whenever available.

Baggage Fees
In the past couple of years, baggage fees have become standard procedure. Airlines now charge up to $25 if you exceed 50 pounds per check-in bag and in some cases one extra pound could cost up to $175. This on top of charging for checked luggage, initially your second bag, now the first on carriers like American, Northwest, United, Delta, and US Airways. US Airways and United even charge an additional $5 if you pay at check-in instead of opting for the "online discount." Even curbside check-in incurs a fee. The result? A lot less room in overhead compartments as more and more people stick to carry-ons.

Shrinking Seats and Less Leg Room
These days, it seems like airlines are trying to stuff as many seats as legally possible into new or reconfigured aircraft. But is that smart business? Kathy Kuhn alleges she injured her knee while trying to climb over a broken armrest during a Dec 7, 2009 Detroit-Las Vegas flight, necessitating surgery. The legal system didn't consider her claim frivolous, as her lawsuit against Northwest Airlines, which denied liability, was moved last month from state to federal court in Detroit.

Loss of Freebies
The days of smiling flight attendants, free decks of playing cards, and complimentary meals are long gone. Now, passengers expect to be charged for everything snacks to pillows. US Airways even tried charging $2 for non-alcoholic drinks, but eliminated the fee when other airlines didn't follow suit (expect this issue to reappear).

Sneaky Surcharges
Airlines now present consumers with a smorgasbord of surcharges. The carriers like to call these extras "convenience fees", suggesting that passengers can save money on fares by selecting which extras they would like to pay for. In some cases these surcharges truly are optional, such as the ones described above (blanket, headphones), in other cases they're less so. Want to fly with your infant? It will cost you up to 10 percent extra, depending on the airline. If you're flying British Airways or Air France, your tyke will also get slapped with a fuel surcharge. Airport improvement fees are another sneaky surcharge some airlines tack on. And whether you believe in global warming or not, you'll even start paying more green to go green: The U.K. doubled its Air Passenger Duty, taxing consumers for flights' greenhouse-gas emissions ($80 for coach passengers, $160 for first-class).

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Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Jordan Simon — 2009-11-15T16:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Adventure Travel, Best Of

Getty RF

Ever since the author of '1000 Places...', Patricia Schultz, tapped into our collective fantasy about exploration, we have all compiled our own travel bucket lists. But since one traveler's must-see is another's must avoid, a list of America's ten top wonders is equally notable for what's not on it.

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Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Ever since the author of '1000 Places…', Patricia Schultz, tapped into our collective fantasy about exploration, we have all compiled our own travel bucket lists. But since one traveler's must-see is another's must avoid, a list of America's ten top wonders is equally notable for what's not on it. Our list excludes extraordinary sights like the National Mall in Washington D.C., and we restricted ourselves to the Lower 48, otherwise Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park and Alaska's Denali would have deserved consideration too. Our aim? To include something for every taste and budget, from nature at its most dramatic at the Grand Canyon to the man-made neon circus that is Times Square. And to give you more bang for your buck, we have included a second iconic sight nearby. Whether you agree or disagree with our top ten, it proves there are plenty of amazing destinations to visit without your passport.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

For a small city, Columbus is a major repository of modern architecture, with works by luminaries like Eero Saarinen, Cesar Pelli, and Richard Meier. This destination says design from the get go-you enter the city over a futuristic quadripod bridge. The Visitors' Center dazzles with work by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly, while Eliel Saarinen's 1942 First Christian Church (its rectangular windows and brick tower glow like corn in the sun) faces I.M. Pei's Cleo Rogers Memorial Library (a brick pavilion with long deep recessed windows). In between, Henry Moore's whimsical massive sculpture, Large Arch, is his tribute to Stonehenge.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: It's 75 miles to Louisville, gateway to the American Bourbon Trail. The 85-mile Louisville-Lexington corridor provides ample opportunity to drink in America's whiskey-making tradition. Our favorite distilleries are Maker's Mark for the marvelous arboretum, and Heaven Hill for its terrific Bourbon Heritage Museum.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Founded in 1777, Monterey's colonial adobe buildings reflect its Spanish and Mexican roots. Its atmospheric, fog-shrouded shore has lured artists and authors alike, including John Steinbeck who immortalized the fishing industry's Cannery Row. Those same factories are now restaurants, shops, inns, and a state-of-the-art aquarium. Pacific Grove is famed for the West Coast's oldest continually operating lighthouse (Point Piños) and swarms of Monarch butterflies who bring a flash of color late fall through winter. Carmel, haunt of celebs from Jack London to Clint Eastwood, has stunning scenery, cultural history, and increasingly appreciated wines-although they don't mix well with the 17-mile road that winds along the Pacific Coast.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Experience the Big Sur-just a half hour drive away-its stunning terrain has boulders that look like abstract art and dramatic cliffs with stomach churning drops. William Randolph Hearst's Castle, near San Simeon, is a crazy combination of Spanish Revival, neo-Baroque, and classical Roman architecture.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

We admire New Orleans not just for its classic Southern belle beauty, sizzling jazz and blues, and fab food, but for its people's indomitable spirit. The Big Easy offers both ooh-la-la lasciviousness in the French Quarter, centered around graceful Jackson Square and spirited Bourbon Street, and genteel antebellum mansions in the Garden District, its oak trees draped year-round with Mardi Gras beads. Did we mention the food? Try the beignets at cafes percolating with debate and chicory-laced coffee, muffaletta and oyster po' boy sandwiches, or go upscale at innovative modern outposts run by top toques John Besh, Susan Spicer, and Emeril Lagasse. Bon appétit!

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Visit former plantations like Greek Revival-style Oak Alley, where docents in period dress will serve you a mint julep on the patio. And don't miss a fishing and shrimping tour; the Cajun boat captains are fonts of local lore, much of it unprintable.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

The Grand Canyon displays nature at its loveliest and fiercest. For the last 6 million years or so, the Colorado River and its tributaries have collaborated with weather's erosive might to carve a multi-hued gorge one mile deep and up to 18 miles wide along its 277-mile stretch. The South Rim is more accessible, but the craggy North Rim (1,000 feet higher) also provides breathtaking overlooks and trails. The Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottom walkway projecting 70 feet over the edge, allows visitors to gaze nearly 4,000 feet down. If heights aren't your thing, try rafting down the roaring Colorado River.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Manmade Lake Powell offers everything from fishing to exploring the 96 side canyons. Visit the Hopi Mesas, where you can buy exquisite basketry, pottery, silver, and Kachina dolls. Director John Ford used Monument Valley's lonely monoliths as a backdrop to John Wayne in his classic Westerns.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Calling the signage in New York's Times Square neon is like calling the Grand Canyon an example of erosion. Fittingly for the surrounding theater district, those animated digital advertisements are officially named "spectaculars," and the largest "jumbotrons." Indeed, zoning ordinances require tenants and billboard renters to display gaudy illuminated signs and marquees. Once synonymous with squalor, Times Square cleaned up its act around 20 years ago-restoring historic theaters, expelling porn palaces and drug dealers, and opening tourist-friendly attractions. And the famed ball-Waterford crystal LCD, eco-friendly, and at 12 feet in diameter, bigger than ever-is now displayed year-round.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Don't dismiss Midtown Manhattan as an urban playground for gawkers, diners, and shoppers. In barely one square mile, iconic attractions within easy walking distance include the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center with Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, MoMA, and the deliciously Deco Chrysler Building.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Santa Fe is a treasure trove of beamed adobe Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture. Despite its size, the nation's oldest and, at 7,000 feet altitude, highest state capital boasts an amazing concentration of arts, music, and fine dining. Artists Georgia O'Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, and photographer Alfred Stieglitz jumpstarted its arts scene; later, classical musician Igor Stravinsky helped open the internationally renowned Santa Fe Opera. There are picturesque churches (Loretto Chapel's miraculous staircase has no visible means of support), fab year-round festivals, and a world-class gallery scene around Canyon Road. There's also the scintillating setting between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and desert, lending itself to hiking, cycling, horse riding, and skiing.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Nearby Taos has tours of historic and working ateliers; the homes of Kit Carson, Mabel Dodge Luhan, and D. H. Lawrence Ranch; the Millicent Rogers Museum for remarkable Southwestern art; and beautiful Francisco de Asis Church.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Yellowstone was the world's first national park, an eco-pioneer established in 1872 that vibrantly paints and sculpts 3,500 square miles of rivers, lakes, soaring mountains, and plunging canyons through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Forged by volcanic and glacial activity, its ongoing geothermal features include iconic Old Faithful Geyser, blasting 184 feet every 60-100 minutes. This is a water world of cascading falls and 136-square-mile Yellowstone Lake. The park is also renowned for wonderful wildlife watching; Lamar Valley is nicknamed "the American Serengeti."

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Grand Teton National Park is only figuratively overshadowed by Yellowstone, as its peaks reach 13,770 feet. Over 100 alpine and backcountry lakes filigree this glorious terrain, which is perfect for hiking. The wildlife is nearly as abundant as Yellowstone, including black bear, buffalo, moose, mountain lion, and elk, while Jackson Hole refers both to the rustic-chic Wild West town and the even wilder ski area.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

The 40-mile Cape Cod National Seashore, established by JFK in 1961, embraces diverse eco-systems including beaches, sand dunes, marshes, wetlands, ponds, and uplands, embroidered with walking and biking trails. The glacial erratic known as Doane Rock, standing 18 feet high, is also located on the seashore. Cape Cod's architecture offers much more than the obligatory lighthouse, there are also striking examples of postmodern architecture at Wellfleet, designed by such iconic names as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. And everyone, straight and gay, should experience artsy anything-goes Provincetown (P-Town), where the peninsula's tip appropriately curls like a tongue stuck out at convention.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Take the ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, both summer colonies for the wealthy, politically powerful, and creative, with striking scenery, splendid concentrations of historic buildings (white-and-gray clapboard whaling captain's homes, lighthouses, and Greek Revival mansions), as well as charming Currier and Ives-style villages.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Charleston was the first U.S. city to pass a historic preservation ordinance, and it shows in the impressive array of architecture. The stately Battery District is arguably the apotheosis of antebellum architecture, culminating in Rainbow Row, named for its cotton-candy-pastel 18th-century homes. The elegant streets are lined with Cabbage palmettos and grand oaks dripping Spanish moss, while steeples pierce the "Holy City's" sky. Market Hall and Sheds, which houses the Museum of the Confederacy, has colorful open-air vendors and stands where you can take a horse-drawn carriage tour that evokes a more genteel era.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Visit the Low Country for sublime seafood, including the offshore Sea Islands where Gullah culture, the proud heritage of African slaves, thrives with its own traditions and language. Stop by Hilton Head, a beautiful eco-centric barrier island, where several noteworthy Gullah festivals are held, for a round of top-hole golf or lazy beachcombing.

Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

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Airplane Urban Legends Debunked

Jordan Simon — 2009-11-06T15:29:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

Chad Magiera, flickr

Have you ever worried about having your intestines sucked out by the powerful flush of an airline toilet? What about being hit by lightning on a flight? If you have, you're not alone. Airline rumors have circulated for decades and range from the outlandish (exploding breast implants) to the understandable (dying in a fiery collision). Believe it or not, your chances of dying-even if your plane crashes-are incredibly slim (the National Transportation Safety Board found that the survival rate for airplane crashes was a reassuring 95.7 percent). Here, we investigate, and debunk, some of the more popular airplane myths.

MYTH: Flushing While Sitting Can Suction You to the Toilet Seat
Of all the lavatory legends, this seems to have the most...traction. We all see and hear the powerful vacuum suction by which airplane toilets do their business (and do away with yours). Reuters once reported that a female passenger had filed a complaint against Scandinavian Airlines about being stuck to the seat; this was later discovered to be fictitious. The wildest variation claims your intestines could be "hoovered." That would certainly suck, but it just ain't gonna happen.

MYTH: Breast Implants Burst Above a Certain Altitude
False. According to some rumors, breast implants can "explode" in any atmosphere with extremely high or low air pressure, and flying high in the sky (or scuba diving in the deep) qualify. Implants do change subtly (you may even notice them temporarily expand in size), but if the atmospheric pressure were that smothering, everyone would combust. We'd worry more about whether fellow passengers think they're fake.

MYTH: Aircraft Toilets Often Discharge Waste When Flushed
Planes don't jettison sewage mid-flight. In fact, waste is collected in a secure holding tank which no plane crew can dump while in the air. The tank can only be discharged via an exterior valve by the ground crew. But the legend isn't total garbage. On rare occasions effluent does plunge earthward, usually due to a leak that permits waste (commingled with blue deodorizing fluid) to freeze on the plane's exterior. Gravity can cause those clumps, dubbed "Blue Ice" by the FAA, to fall. UFOs (Unidentified Flying Ordure) have occurred at least a dozen times in the past two decades, from Lynn, Massachusetts to Chino, California. And just to dispel another myth, those surprise strikes are unlikely to kill anyone.

MYTH: Killer Spiders Lurk Under Toilet Seats
The rumor of deadly spiders being found underneath airplane toilet seats has circulated for at least ten years. In August 1999, a prank e-mail masquerading as news warned of the arachnius gluteus or South American Blush Spider. Five people allegedly died either at or on flights to Chicago's Blare Airport, whereupon the Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) discovered nests on four planes. Alas, there's no such spider (gluteus? c'mon people), airport, or aviation committee, nor does the medical journal that reported the story exist. To increase the tale's credibility, subsequent hoaxes used the name of an actual arachnid found in Asia, telamonia dimidiata. But not only would aircraft disinfectant likely kill the spiders, that species isn't toxic. The 2006 film Snakes on a Plane spawned several fresh Internet hoaxes about dangerous fauna, but so far none has reared its ugly head.

MYTH: You Can't Be Arrested for Going to the Potty
Well, this one depends on the circumstances, of course. Last spring, Joao Correa allegedly assaulted a Delta flight attendant who barred his way with the beverage cart and wouldn't permit him to use the Business Class restroom (yes, there's a rarely-enforced, vague TSA security directive that Economy passengers can't upgrade when the need arises). He was charged with assault after pulling her arm and arrested by the FBI upon landing. After spending two nights in jail, Correa acknowledged that he didn't handle the situation correctly and a deal was negotiated. It was a stipulation that most people found crappy, however, especially considering that first class travelers have gotten away with more egregious acts without landing in jail-an inebriated United Airlines passenger, for example, once became so incensed when attendants cut him off that he defecated on a serving cart and tracked his poop through the main cabin. He was banned from the airline for life, but didn't end up behind bars.

MYTH: Bathroom Water is Potable
The lav is hardly the most sanitary area anyway (don't go barefoot!): E. coli and other bacteria thrive all over the restroom. In 2002, the Wall Street Journal played taps over the tap water, collecting sample vials from 14 flights and reporting partying pathogens from Salmonella to insect eggs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, a 2004 study of 7,812 water samples sourced from 2,316 planes found 2.8 percent positive for total coliform bacteria; another analysis of 327 planes concluded contamination levels were 15 percent. Tanks typically aren't cleaned daily, which means that they could potentially pick up germs in any country they visit. Even scarier? Galley water may not be much better (individuals with suppressed immune systems should even avoid hot beverages). The EPA is drafting new rules for airplane water. Though the Air Transport Association advocacy group claims individual studies under EPA oversight found cleaner results, nearly 50 airlines signed water-testing protocol agreements. Still, bottled water may be the more reassuring, if not safer choice.

MYTH: Joining the Mile-High Club is Illegal
Well, yes and no. According to the Civil Aviation Authority no specific laws govern the matter, though Britain's 2004 Sexual Offences Act includes sex in a public lavatory. Even the Half-Mile Club (masturbation), depicted in the film The Hangover, is only technically illegal-at least in public view at your seat. The full act's legality depends on national laws (tricky when a plane traverses international skies), company policy, and the aircraft's place of registration, but you're potentially exposing yourself to public complaints and suits. Otherwise, generally the worst is that you're asked to stop (continue and you're subject to prosecution). Last spring during a London-Bangalore flight, U.K supermodel Sarah Hannon allegedly discovered boyfriend Daniel Melia getting his "bang on" with socialite Clare Irby. The latter two were charged with gross indecency. A copulating couple also "outraged public decency" on a 1999 American Airlines flight, netting a fine (banning is more likely). But that's an exception. Even though celebs such as Janet Jackson, Virgin mogul Richard Branson, and supposedly Ralph Fiennes are club members, cross this fantasy off your bucket list just in case. Besides, you risk physical injury pretzeling in those tiny bathrooms.

MYTH: Lightning Presents a Huge Danger of Crashing
While planes are more likely to be struck than earthbound objects (it's estimated that every plane will be struck by a bolt at least once a year), they're sturdier than people realize. The chances of lightning causing a crash are infinitesimal. Aircraft design safeguards include construction with aluminum (an excellent conductor that allows lightning's electricity to skim the shell harmlessly). Over 20 years ago, NASA data indicated that small electrical currents could affect a plane's electronic systems without damaging its structure. That research prompted FAA regulations mandating integrated lightning protection for the electronic systems, fuel lines and tanks.

MYTH: Birds Can't Cause Serious Accidents
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's heroics aside, birds fly into engines more commonly than people realize. While fatalities are rare, the cost of damage is astronomical (roughly $600 million annually in the U.S. alone, much of it due to minor incidents like broken fan blades that aren't covered by airline insurance). The industry even coined an unofficial term: BASH (Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard). The FAA has received over 70,000 reports of bird strikes to civil aircraft in the past two decades; they're resulted in significant accidents for five large jets since 1975. Moreover, the risk has increased exponentially, aided by environmental legislation forming protected wildlife sanctuaries and wetlands and criminalizing killing endangered species, even when they pose a threat. Large commercial airliners can withstand avian impact but only to a point (birds over four pounds can cause serious problems). Fortunately, even when one engine is disabled, the auxiliary engines provide sufficient thrust to complete the flight.

MYTH: Everyone Dies in a Crash
We've all heard the hoary old one-liner, "I'm not afraid of flying, I'm afraid of crashing." The litany of disasters without survivors is blazingly engraved in memory. But studies find that media disproportionately cover major crashes, often sensationally: Fear sells. MIT statistics professor and leading aviation safety expert Arnold Barnett discovered that front-page coverage of airline accidents was 1,500 that of car accidents, fueling the irrational frenzy. He created a measurement, Q, representing death risk per random flight: It's just one in 90 million. A National Transportation Safety Board study analyzed accident results between 1983 and 2000. Of the 53,487 people involved, 51,207 survived: a survival rate of 95.7 percent. Even the worst incidents (involving fire, injuries, and/or substantial damage) yielded a 76.6 percent survival rate. Best-selling author and former television news honcho Ben Sherwood, author of the recently published The Survivor's Club calls passenger fatalism the "Myth of Hopelessness." If you assume you're going to die, you don't take potentially life-saving precautions - like reading the safety briefing cards. The European Transport Safety Council determined that 40% of worldwide plane fatalities occurred in survivable situations. Lesson? You won't process new information in a panic, so before cranking up your iPod and getting dead drunk, prep your brain first.

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Top Ten Haunted Hotels

Jordan Simon — 2009-10-31T17:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Hotel, Weird, Best Of

Corbis

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Top Ten Haunted Hotels

An unexplained chill abruptly descends. A weeping lady in white appears then vanishes. Objects float across the room.

Hundreds of lodgings from grand resorts to intimate B&Bs swear the dead make themselves at home like their living guests. Many allegedly haunted hotels happily market their spectral residents to eager ghost hunters; others fear publicity will scare away customers.

While hauntings are controversial and nearly impossible to prove, the hotels on the following pages are all well-known for "mysterious" happenings. In this case, we've restricted our choices to benign, Casper-like ghosts. No desecrated Native American burial sites à la Poltergeist or Amityville Horror shows: We want to ensure you fall into a dead sleep and check out the right way.

Keep reading to find out which two hotels inspired Stephen King novels, where Marilyn Monroe reportedly "hangs out," and where the ghost of a small boy is said to steal golf balls.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

This Hollywood landmark, which hosted the first Academy Awards presentation, opened in 1927 and immediately became a celebrity haunt, luring luminaries like Chaplin, Fairbanks, Swanson and later Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Cary Grant. Since its 2005 makeover by decorator-to-the-stars Dodd Mitchell, current cavorters include Kirsten Dunst, Eva Longoria, and Prince. No surprise that spectral superstars, including Marilyn Monroe (who lived here for two years during her early modeling career), seek the spotlight. Supposedly her spirit floats around the VIP Tropicana poolside lounge; guests have also reported seeing her reflection in the full-length mirror from her original suite, which sometimes sits near the gift shop, as well as a voluptuous blonde dancing in the ballroom. Another restless resident, Montgomery Clift, occupied room 928 while filming From Here to Eternity. It's said the strains of his bungled bugling (practicing for the movie) resonate in the hallways.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

This sumptuous Art Deco ocean liner sailed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967, before being permanently berthed in Long Beach. The ship, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been a filming location for maritime adventures from the original Poseidon Adventure to Pearl Harbor. Sections were gutted to expand the museum and add themed restaurants, a theater, and guestrooms (recently modernized with iPod docking stations and LCD TVs). At least 50 former crew members and passengers met an untimely demise during its thousand-plus Atlantic crossings (not including possible WWII casualties while it served as a POW transport). Oddly apparitions weren't reported until after its retirement. People hear infants crying in the nursery (the original third-class playroom), while the first-class swimming pool sightings include a little girl named Jackie and women in vintage swimsuits; wet footprints and splashing sounds allegedly appear though the pool is drained. A watertight engine room door crushed engineer John Pedder during a 1966 fire drill; he supposedly still cruises the area.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

This exclusive, yet relaxed, Adirondacks summer retreat debuted in 1883, fell into disrepair a century later, and eventually was restored to its original glory. Today is on the National Register of Historic Places and is popular among present guests and, reportedly, among "former" guests, including a mysterious lady in white who rouses sleepers with her chilly breath, a couple who argues violently through the fine-dining Trillium, and a portly walrus-mustachioed man dubbed Walter by employees who "bump" into him in the elevator. Supposedly a stately blonde in white evening dress rebuked then walked through a sous-chef at Mr. Brown's, a resort restaurant (the chef promptly resigned). Golfers also claim to see a boy in 1950s attire struck on the golf course. Legend has it that he was hit by a car while he chased golf balls for resale to the pro shop. Today he spirits away your balls and flings them from behind a tree while giggling.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

Another member of Historic Hotels of America, this 1925 Federal-style, brick hostelry faces site of the infamous 17th-century witch trials (it was also the hotel that starred in the film Ghost Hunters). Some parapsychologists believe former witch victims may reside here, including the first person executed, orchard owner Bridget Bishop, who is believed to be responsible for the aroma of apples often permeates the hotel. Guests also claim a woman paces the sixth floor, pausing to pine at room 612. The front desk has also received complaints about suite 325-it seems that ghostly "strangers" use the bathroom in this room (indeed closing the door modestly) with running water, lights turning on, and flushing toilet.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

A National Historic Landmark, Hotel del Coronado is best known as the hotel where the film Some Like It Hot was shot. Named "one of the top ten resorts in the world" by USA Today, The Del has hosted newsmakers from Edison, Lindbergh, and Babe Ruth to every president since LBJ. It ostensibly inspired Stephen King's novel 1408, which is based on parapsychologist Christopher Chacon's investigation of a famously haunted room, 302 (now 3327). It was in this room that lonely, lovelorn, 20-something Kate Morgan was found dead several days after checking in under an alias in1892. Kate claimed she was waiting for her brother, but it was really her reprobate estranged husband (some believe he murdered her, though the coroner's inquest ruled suicide). Hotel guests and employees have reported flickering lights and TVs, floating objects, strange sounds from footsteps to voices, sudden chill spots, and mystifying breezes. Her apparition (in black lace Victorian garb) and antics occur throughout the grounds, often at the Established 1888 gift shop.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

On the National Register of Historic Places, this Victorian charmer welcomed such VIPs as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses Grant, Oscar Wilde, Dwight Eisenhower, Mae West, and Babe Ruth. The owners seem equally proud as haunted hosts to 32 ghosts. "Teddy" Roosevelt recruited several Rough Riders over drinks here in 1898 to fight in the Spanish-American War and he supposedly continues to imbibe beverages here in the cozy dark bar off the lobby. After arguing with her jealous husband, chambermaid Sallie White stayed overnight. She died two days after her husband's brutal March 28, 1876 assault; the Menger paid the $32 funeral cost. Sallie still wanders the Victorian wing halls, carrying towels but ignoring housekeeping requests. Richard King, owner of the famed King Ranch, died in his private suite here and supposedly walks through walls. Staffers report hearing heavy footsteps only to find a pair of army boots by the door: The hotel was constructed 23 years after the adjacent Alamo fell, prompting speculation that soldiers haunt the land. Interactive entities range from a buckskin-clad cowboy to a woman knitting, while utensils float around the kitchen and restaurant.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

War often evokes bloody phenomena: The spirit of Gettysburg lives on in this 1797 handsome historic hostelry. At one time, the Cashtown Inn served as Confederate General A.P. Hill's headquarters and triage center for the wounded-some of whom may not have departed. The inn's brochure reproduces an 1895 photo that purportedly caught the apparition of a Confederate soldier standing on the front porch. The entity is particularly active during summer (Gettysburg raged from July 1-3), prowling the attic and halls, rapping on room 4's door, even mischievously appearing in a chair opposite the bed. Rooms contain guests' journals to note paranormal occurrences, like the door of Room 1 slamming of its own accord, mysterious scrawling on mirrors, creaking floorboards when adjacent rooms are unoccupied, even an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) supposedly clearly stating, "OK," in response to the guest's comment "I am leaving this recorder on... If you would like to talk to us just speak."

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

When this early 20th century, neo-Italianate Renaissance classic (also on the National Register of Historic Places) was renovated in the '80s, it became the linchpin in downtown Portland's redevelopment. Sadly, it's also known for a jumper who jumped down the stairs outside of room 703-according to rumor, his spirit now haunts the rooms on the way down (though baffling phenomena occur up to room 1003). Rooms in that vertical column are particularly susceptible to supernatural doings, but 703 features the eeriest events of all-inexplicably moving objects, mysterious tapping, and cold spots. Photos taken in this room occasionally depict a dark cloud and videos contain strange shadows, distorted faces, even EVPs. Guests report that upon returning to their room, glasses are out, towels used, chairs moved---though the electronic key record indicates that no one entered. One reported hearing increasingly heavy breathing as the sheets practically mummified him. When he finally freed himself from their stranglehold, his large heavy luggage flew across the room towards him, followed by a figure running into the closet. Security demonstrated he was quite alone in the room.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

Originally a fashionable Victorian spa, Eureka Springs is one of America's quirkiest towns. In the past, Native Americans touted its healing waters; Today this alternative, artsy destination welcomes everyone from Hell's Angel conventioneers to LGBT activists. Over the years, the Crescent has served as a college, hospital, and hotel and there are nearly as many ghosts here as there are incarnations of the property. The ghost of Norman Baker (who ran a hoax "Cancer Hospital" and health resort here during the late '30s) rambles about. The Crystal Dining Room is a hotspot for sightings of Victorian-garbed spirits. Elsewhere, a wailing woman carries her infant's blanket. A tall bearded gent knocks on doors, asking, "Are you waiting for me?" An Irish stonemason who crashed from the roof into Room 218 during construction bangs on walls and flicks the lights and television on and off. A nurse floats around the third floor. A woman in Room 419 introduces herself as a cancer patient. A waiter in old-time attire bearing a tray of butter followed teenagers closely in and out an elevator and down the hall to their room.

Top Ten Haunted Hotels

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Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Jordan Simon — 2009-10-21T12:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Romantic, Best Of

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Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Once upon a time, certain Club Meds, promising that alluring "antidote to civilization" were the sole refuge for couples or singles seeking childfree frolics. But today numerous retreats, romantic to racy, offer ooh-la-lasciviousness (we've focused on North American getaways but international options abound from Fiji to the Greek Isles). Many top-notch all-inclusive chains like Sandals now impose age limits, while some historic B&Bs don't want to risk great-great-great-grandma's Chippendale chairs. Moreover, though fewer destinations want to limit their potential clientele in the current economic climate, adult-only weeks are a growing trend everywhere from dude ranches to decadent cruises. Such swell-egant retreats as Antigua's Curtain Bluff and Hawaii's Hana Maui even offer adult-only months, while fab family-friendly retreats like The Cove at Atlantis in the Bahamas or cruise ships like the Crown Princess, Royal Caribbean's Vision-class, and Carnival's new Oasis of the Seas and Dream provide sumptuous sanctuaries with child-free pools, restaurants, and lounges. But our top ten titillating temptations "discourage" kids under 16 year-round (we figure teenagers want their own space as much as their parents). Which hideaways put the sin in scintillating? Grab your Kama Sutra and find out!

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $270 per couple, per night

When you stroll through Puerto Vallarta's Old Town, it's easy to understand why Liz Taylor and Richard Burton married and built a home here. From the classic Spanish Colonial architecture to the sensuous sweep of the azure Bahia de Banderas, it fulfills any fantasy of the ultimate romantics' retreat. Villa Premiere defines luxury boutique, with just 83 exquisite guestrooms and suites brimming with traditional Mexican furnishings and artworks (all with private terraces and whirlpool tubs). Elegant extras include chilled towels, bubbly, and head-and-hands de-stress mini-massage upon arrival. Despite new-fangled devices and diversions (pillow menus, butler service, oxygen bar), Old World style and ambience prevail. The sybaritic spa incorporates indigenous design elements like stone floors, Tepescohuite tree beams and rope ceilings, and palm mats that provide vivid visual and textural contrasts with handpainted local murals of capering cherubs and Huichol Indian handicrafts.

Tip: Planning to propose? Consider the Romantic Engagement supplement. You receive (among many lavish touches) a space-available upgrade, chocolate-covered strawberries with sparkling wine, rose-petal turndown service, private romantic candlelit dinner on the beach, spa discounts, and three options for a surprise proposal.

San Salvador No. 117
Col. 5 de Diciembre
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Phone: 877 866 9176
www.premiereonline.com.mx

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $280 per couple, per night

The motto for this resplendent Relais et Châteaux retreat is "The Art of Rejuvenation and Romance in the Heart of Wine Country" -- but could just as easily be "If 'Luxe' Could Kill." Auberge is truly a feast for all the senses. The swooningly romantic beamed dining room, especially by the stone fireplace, and coveted patio tables are the perfect place to propose (or let someone down easily) over acclaimed Chef Robert Curry's six-course regional tasting menu, perfectly paired with wines. Indeed, the sommelier even pairs wines to signature treatments at the gorgeous guest-only spa, modeled after a centuries-old monastery (but hardly practicing austerity!), which also utilizes seasonal ingredients from local vineyards, groves, and gardens. The Provence-inspired earth-toned ivy-swaddled cottages zigzag drunkenly down the hillside, all with terraces providing extraordinary panoramas of the vine-studded Napa Valley. The sun-drenched earthily elegant theme is carried through the simple yet sophisticated decor. The artful resort's master brushstroke? Managing partner George Goeggel along with noted gallery owner Ira Wolk (who opened a branch here) created one of the world's most comprehensive outdoor sculpture galleries: nearly 110 works displayed throughout 33 acres of olive trees, meandering paths, terraced rock walls, and streams. Auberge stays have been a prized addition to Golden Globes presenters' (think Drew, Denzel, Leonardo, Luke) goodie bags and it symbolizes sybaritic escape not just for such celebs as Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Claudia Schiffer, Christina Aguilera, and the Beckhams but fictional characters (Entourage's Eric and Sloan booked a weekend).

Tip: Arrange "elegant elopements" including wedding cakes designed by the executive pastry chef or private Tête à Tête dinners at the Japanese-inspired La Pagode pavilion tucked away amid the olive groves (with options like a string trio).

180 Rutherford Hill Road
Rutherford, California
Phone: 800 348 5406
www.aubergedusoleil.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $344 per couple, per night

The mere name of this couples-only clothing-optional all-inclusive playground (and its sister Temptation resorts) indicates its suggestive aura and activities. Shed your swimsuits and inhibitions at the nude beach, pool, elevated Jacuzzi, and co-ed sauna. Indulge in toga parties, tequila volleyball, and striptease tourneys. The keywords are erotic and exotic (Desire fronts a luxuriant lagoon teeming with coatimundi to crocodiles-we don't mean the randier singles!), though even prudes would approve the luxurious appointments and amenities from opulent spa to fine dining options. Since this once-sleepy Riviera Maya fishing village has become more developed, public coupling in the canopied seaside beds is discouraged though the "Skytop" hot tub remains a hotspot. International revelers, from couples reinvigorating their relationship to alternative lifestyle swingers, embrace all ages and body types though the average guest is roughly 40-45 (and 20-25 percent body fat). The atmosphere is playful without pressure or prurience. Indeed, most people dress (up) for dinner or dancing, often according to the day's fantasy theme.

Tip: Exemplifying the passion with pampering mantra, the Jacuzzi and Passion Suites include such titillating toys and treats as sensual scented candles, Tantra essential gift box, and Desire incense.

Carretera Cancun Puerto Morelos
Km. 27.5 SM. 12, Mza 41, Lote 1, Fracc. 2, Predio Tanchacte
77580 Puerto Morelos, México
Phone: 888 201 7551
www.desireresorts.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $382 per couple, per night

Arid Aruba is famed for its sparkling champagne-hued beaches, rock formations resembling abstract sculpture, hip hopping nightlife, storm-free location below the Caribbean "hurricane belt," and whipping winds that pose their own unique golf challenge, bending the trademark divi divi trees at a 90-degree angle as if bowing to nature. Amid a sea of mammoth resorts catering to families and meetings as well as honeymooners, captivating couples-only Bucuti unfolds sensuously along 14 prime acres on Eagle Beach (a perennial contender for Best Beach lists). Eco-centric types appreciate its Green Globe 21 and ISO 14001 certifications but anyone will enjoy going green for less green than other resorts in its class. You can arrange private candlelit dinners or couples massages in a beachfront palapa, or join the hordes haggling in Oranjestad's shops, gamboling on booze cruises, and gambling in casinos.

Tip: The resort's sumptuous Tara Suites were designed according to couples' specifications; they include huge ocean-facing balconies and bedrooms, and direct access to the widest, most secluded section of Eagle Beach, helping earn it a Top-10 World's Most Romantic Resort ranking from TripAdvisor.

LG Smith Boulevard 55-B
Palm/Eagle Beach 1347, Aruba
Phone: 297 – 583 – 1100
www.bucuti.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $390 per couple, per night

If you're seeking R&R à deux (well, for that matter trois or more), Jamaica's (in)famous Hedonisms seduce you to "Be Wicked for a Week." Hedonism II, caught between 22 landscaped acres and a sublime ivory-hued beach, was the island's first designated Super-Inclusive. Catering to your wildest whims, like a nonstop frat party, this prime Grade-A meet market is the place to let it all hang out. Guestrooms feature mirrored ceilings, themed events include Kinky Carnival and buff body contests, and hidden alcoves dot the nude waterfall pool and jungle paths. Hedonism III may be even more debauched (insert wink and smile-y emoticons): swim-up rooms, translucent water slide shimmying through the disco (playing au naturel is de rigueur), and imaginative theme nights like pimp-ho parties. Both resorts offer activities aplenty, from rock-climbing to reggae classes. It's a see-and-be-scene in every sense.

Tip: Naughty-but-nice à la carte Hedonistic Delights range from aromatherapy bubble baths with bubbly to the Tantralizing Kit for Two which provides "erotic inspiration as you have fun exploring with the scented massage oils, chocolate flavored body paints, whipped cream and syrup. After warming up, the condoms, aphrodisiac fruit platter and champagne will help prolong the evening."

Norman Manley Boulevard Negril, Jamaica and Main Street Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Phone: 877 467 8737
www.hedonism.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $595 per couple, per night

Your beachfront mansion-away-from-home, The House offers posh pomp without pomposity. Strategically placed planters and vases overflow with anthurium and allamanda, heliconia and hibiscus, providing continual aromatherapy, as do the scented candles in your room at turndown. Colors, textures, and materials are carefully selected to soothe, from blissful blue to winsome white: interior design as Prozac. Your own Personal Service Ambassador (PSA), garbed in gossamer lunar white, greets you at the airport, whisking you away in a limousine. One PSA will unpack your clothes, while another offers a complimentary welcome drink and "jet lag" massage. They'll arrange car rentals, excursions, sports, dinner reservations. They patrol the beach – glorious Paynes Bay -- with silver salvers bearing chilled washcloths, Evian spritzes, and fresh fruit. After a hard day's relaxing, retire to one of the 34 spare yet smart suites, outfitted with the usual luxury culprits from goose-down duvets to Gaggia espresso machines. Arched doors opening onto the beachfront terrace provide the ultimate ever-changing canvas. For dinner, adjacent Daphne's, outpost of London's eponymous eatery, lures the likes of Cindy Crawford, Mariah Carey, Sir Richard Branson, Sir David Frost, Kevin Bacon, and local girl Rihanna for Italian fare with Bajan flair.

Tip: The latest enticements include free massages upon arrival-and free weddings.

Paynes Bay, St James, Barbados, West Indies
Phone: 888 966 9948

target="_blank">www.thehousebarbados.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $625 per couple, per night

Antigua claims 365 beaches, one for every day and mood, and this stylish secluded all-inclusive commands a particularly exquisite pearly strand that stretches luxuriantly for nearly a mile. Sexy semi-alfresco public spaces conjure Tahiti with thatch roofing, woven bamboo, vibrant art naïf, and a grotto swimming pool with waterfall. The premium suites define barefoot chic without chicanery, effortlessly blending classic (mahogany to marble accents) and contemporary (flat-screen TV/DVDs, iPod docking stations, Wi-Fi). Even the smaller, non-beachfront Gauguin cottages boast private plunge pools and views of the bird sanctuary lagoon. We adore the Indulge Spa's virtual tree-house setting, cleverly integrated into the lush tropical gardens, and the beachfront Gauguin restaurant's canny thatched cabanas for dining à deux. Small wonder Galley Bay does a brisk business in weddings and routinely receives glowing citations from Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List to TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Award.

Tip: The latest special excursion transports one couple via inflatable boat to otherwise inaccessible, remote Pinching Bay, leaving just the necessities: champagne, lobster salad, snorkeling equipment, towels, umbrella, and a cell phone (in case you want to return to civilization).

Galley Bay Beach Rd, St. John's, Antigua
Phone: 866 237 1644
www.galleybayresort.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $650 per couple, per night

This ravishing remote Rockies retreat, a member of the prestigious Relais et Châteaux, straddles 600 acres framed against the breathtaking backdrop of the Bitterroot range. Low-key yet high-maintenance, this epitome of cowboy chic is adorned with world-class Western artworks. Accommodations occupy 23 opulent Western-style log cabins (all with wood-burning fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs). Aficionados savor its innovative seasonal cuisine, extensive wine cellar (repeat recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence), and superlative service that's friendly yet professional, everyone knowing their business but not yours. All-inclusive rates include trail rides, hikes, tennis, fly-casting lessons (Orvis endorses the resort), snowshoeing, 3 meals daily including multi-course gourmet dinner, snacks, house wines and cocktails, and in-room bar set-ups. Additional activities include heli-hiking, helicopter tours, cattle drives, horseback riding, fly-fishing, guided wildlife watching, snowmobiling, and more. Artists' workshop weekends, cowboy roundups, and vintners' programs are held several times annually. The ambience is so amorous, locals joke even the elk rut out of season.

Tip: The five-night all-inclusive Winter Mountain Romance getaway for two provides a Luxury Cabin at a 20 percent discount plus relaxing couple's massage with champagne.

5551 West Fork Road
Darby, Montana
Phone: 800 654 2943

target="_blank">www.triplecreekranch.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

Rates: From $725 per couple, per night

The pink-and-white casitas of this grande dame "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" resort (a member of Leading Hotels of the World) spill down emerald hills to a sea that ripples from turquoise to tourmaline. Candy-cane golf carts (signed by celebrities) wind past gardens as manicured as the clientele. Regulars during its half century have included Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, John Travolta, Kevin Costner, Sandra Bullock, Madonna, Bono, Brad Pitt… thanks to the supreme privacy and ultra-professional yet personalized pampering (arrange a 3AM massage on your terrace? No problemo: nothing succeeds like excess). The casitas boast glass ceilings, private pools, stunning bay vistas, and clever "magic-boxes" for discreet placement of continental breakfast. The restaurants, optimally placed to drink in those views, are celebrated for savvy savory fusion fare; nab a terrace table at twilight as the setting sun triggers a laser show across Acapulco Bay. Las Brisas long ago perfected its recipe for romance.

Tip: The "Honeymoon Package" welcomes couples to their Brisas Beach Club room (space-available suite upgrade) with rose petals leading from the door to the bed, fresh flowers and a bottle of champagne… followed by a couples' massage, then dinner with wine set up on your terrace.

Carretera Escenica 5255
Fraccionamiento Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico
Phone: 744 469 6900
www.brisashotelonline.com

Top Ten North American Adult-Only Getaways

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