Your Definitive List of Seaside Essentials

Sand in the swimsuit? The only thing that grates more is being unprepared at the beach. From the hottest gadgets to the latest travel memoir, toss these items into your tote and be perfectly primed for fun under the sun this summer.

Sunscreen: Sure, you lathered up before you left home, but reapplying every two hours burns you up. Pack Sunguard Sunscreen Wipes for hassle-free protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Towel: You'll be in high cotton this summer with the Land's End Beach Blanket, which accommodates two people and boasts clever stakes to keep it planted in high winds. And thanks to its sand-resistant flatweave backing, you'll leave the beach behind.

A winter storm expected to hit the Northeast over the weekend will likely cause flight disruptions throughout the region, according to reports issued Friday. Several states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont are likely to get hit.

Passengers with plans to travel to, from, or through destinations impacted by the storm are advised to check the status of their flight before leaving their home and to prepare for delays at the airport. Dress comfortably, bring a fully charged cell phone, and have access to the phone number of an airport hotel should you experience overnight delays. As always, Travelocity customers should visit the Customer Care page for information on receiving assitance with their travel plans.

Airlines have begun issuing waivers for customers who wish to postpone thier travel. See below for a list of airlines that have instituted flexible travel policies. Visit your carrier's web site for details and restrictions.
United Airlines
US Airways

Whether your mama is voting for Obama, you think Hillary has more verbal artillery left in her, or you're catching a ride on the Straight Talk Express, there's no denying that this is one of the most exhilarating elections in recent memory.

Like many of you, I'm hanging on every poll, obsessively reading CNN, and toying with the idea of getting more involved. The national conventions for both major parties offer excellent opportunities to observe the election process up close and explore a little of the heartland. Here's the scoop on how to get in on the action.

This past weekend, Virgin flew a 747 from Heathrow in London, to Schiphol in Amsterdam. Of course, this wouldn’t normally be such a big deal, except it was on time. No, I’m kidding. What was of note on this particular flight was that one of the four engines was powered by a mix of jet fuel and coconut and babassu palm oil. The idea, of course, was to test out using biofuel in the sky to try to cut back on what is an increasingly noted issue of air travel pollution. What is also noteworthy here is that, by using a biofuel that is not from a staple crop—like corn, we can avoid using both food supplies and some other crucial crops

The Associated Press (via USA Today) reports that US Airways announced Tuesday they would begin charging travelers $25 to check a second piece of luggage. This follows a near-identical move by United Airlines earlier this month. Southwest Airlines began charging customers $25 to charge a third bag in late January.

The additional charges come at a time when airlines are struggling to turn a profit. On Tuesday, the price of oil again topped $100 a barrel. The price of oil is closely tied to that of jet fuel.

The new charge will be effective immediately for tickets purchased starting Wednesday, March 27 for travel on or after May 5.

US Airways already charged customers who checked between two and nine bags $80 per extra bag, and they are now boosting that charge to $100.

I think it was the fact that I’d already spent so much time above the clouds in Rio de Janeiro, from gawking at the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado to watching the sun set from Pão de Açúcar’s peak, that led me to decide that I just couldn’t leave the city without hang-gliding from Pedro Bonita. Whether I was high on bird’s-eye beauty or just suffering from altitude-induced delirium, I’m not sure. Either way, on my last morning in town, I found myself running at full speed off a ramp in tandem with a hang-gliding instructor I’d met 10 minutes before. This was about 45 minutes after paying $10 for my “pilot’s license” and 5 minutes after practicing my liftoff run (one time).

Last week's announcement of Fidel Castro's retirement has Americans abuzz about the fate of the long-standing US embargo against the island nation. What does it mean for travelers?

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member bnicolas007

Rick Steves shows us Europe off the beaten path. Jacques Cousteau plunged us into fascinating underwater habitats. And Anthony Bourdain brings culinary bravado from around the world right to your T.V. screen.

Now, video artists Lauren Tabak and Alexa Inkeles take us along on intimate city tours by those who know the inner workings of the urban world better than most: Rock stars.

Why rock stars? Being an aspiring one myself (albeit on a relatively small scale--insert self-deprecating laugh track here, please), I can personally attest to the vibrant social life of the musician trying to move on up in a fast-paced industry. What gives rock stars such a well-framed perspective on city hotspots is that they know where the good times are. After all, it is their job.

Last night, when the pizza was delivered, I made my boyfriend run out and pay for it. Correction, I paid for it---hey, I'm an equal opportunity kind of girl---but he signed the credit card slip. The reason? Tipping makes me nervous. Or rather, knowing how much to tip makes me nervous. And it's even worse when the delivery guy is standing right there. Math in a bar? Taxing, but doable. Pressure math in the lobby of your building? Much scarier.

Of course, tipping is fraught with even more uncertainty when you're in a foreign country. How much to give? Is it included? Can you add it to the credit card bill or should you leave it on the table?

If you've been wondering how much extra moolah you're going to want to cough up on vacation, here are a few guidelines.

Right now, we’re riding the crest of cruise wave season, the heaviest time of year for cruise bookings and prime time to find steals and deals on ships both large and small. When you factor in that all your meals and much of your onboard entertainment is included in the cruise price, it truly is one of the best bargains in vacationing today.

Now I know there are a lot of people out there who think “cruise” and roll their eyes (are you one of them?), but as someone who previously doubted she’d ever be able to find anything to like about sea legs, I’ve been proven wrong again and again.

Spring Break is here again. If spring break happens year after year after year -- why is this one different? Well for one, because it's the spring break that shouldn't be happening. We've all been hearing all about a possible recession. We're all feeling the pinch. Real estate, consumer confidence, spending it's all been looking rather bleak. And yet, for inexplicable reasons this spring break people are still traveling. In droves.

So lets stretch beyond these puzzling facts and just say – clearly Americans want their vacation time. Even if prices are high and they must scrimp elsewhere in order to take it. That means that this year with high prices continually on the rise, travelers booking further in advance than ever – it's increasingly helpful to know where to find the deals.

I took a look at pricing data and here's the skinny on where to find good pricing this spring break.

Picture from IgoUgo member btwood2

Have you heard about the latest reduction in Frequent Flier miles at USAirways? That's today's news. Yesterday's news was the fact that so many carriers were shortening the timeframe for using your miles. Note to self: Fly a lot or lose all those precious points I've been working hard to accrue!

The business people say the airlines are doing this because airlines miles are bad for their books. But c'mon. What's a flier to do in order to keep their miles in this day and age?

Cupid’s arrow still hasn’t found me. (I think he needs to invest in GPS.) But, it’s managed to find Lisa Tabb. She’s been married 10 times.

Co-Authors of Beyond Vegas: 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around the World, Lisa and her husband, Sam Silverstein, eloped in 10 of the world’s dreamiest destinations.

“We chose places that embodied romance,” Lisa said. “But also [places] where people could duplicate our experience and had short residency requirements.”

Lisa and Sam wanted each of their weddings to be special – and official – so they obtained marriage licenses and scheduled officiants each time, “repeating our vows again and again and again,” she said.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I pried into Lisa’s love life to find out about their most memorable experience and if there are future plans for more wedding bells.

If you're still looking for Mr. Right or Ms. Walks-on-Air this February 14th, you might wonder if your chances would be improved by a visit to Valentine, Texas or Valentine, Nebraska. Recently a single friend suggested I write a travel blog called: You Don't Have to Go to Alaska to Meet the Man of Your Dreams. She wanted me to figure out where the most single men live so that she could vacation accordingly.

I recently returned from a week in Trinidad & Tobago. Before you look outside at the wintry weather and curse me for basking in the warmth of the Caribbean, let me tell you that it was not all bath-warm water and coral beaches. Some of it was, I won’t lie, but I was there for Carnival. Trinidadians take their Carnival seriously and their celebration is the largest in the Caribbean—and one of the biggest and wildest in the world. Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be eliciting much pity from you either. Understandable, I suppose, but you are also looking at it with a chilly and rested eye. Carnival is all about sleep-deprivation. They say that when Trinidadians are not celebrating Carnival, they spend their time talking about how great last year’s party was, or how great next year’s is going to be. They’re not kidding; I’ve never seen people dance, drink, party, and generally revel in an event like Trinis at Carnival.

From how Beijing plans to eradicate rain to when athletes will arrive in China, I’ve been obsessed with reading the latest Olympics news (and emailing it to all my friends—sorry, guys) for the past year. I thought that as someone who had both recently visited Beijing and attended previous Summer Olympics, I might be uniquely obsessed with the 2008 Games.

It turns out that plenty of Americans are not only interested, but set to attend: Travelocity’s Beijing air bookings are 70% ahead of where they were last year, and Beijing hotel bookings are on pace to be 200% ahead. With only 178 days before the opening ceremony at the “bird’s nest” stadium, there isn’t enough flight and hotel availability to accommodate everyone at the current paces, so you’d best book now—or get creative.

Here are some tips to get you there, along with ideas to let you cheer on your team while experiencing Beijing at its best.

You know those Facebook profiles that are absolutely cram-packed with applications: Wall, Super Wall, Fun Wall, quizzes, compare-your-friends tools, What Kind of Car Are You? assessment, and so on? They’re the visual equivalent of a noisy construction site, a virtual brain dump that doesn’t really tell you a lot about a person besides revealing their propensity for accepting every application invitation they receive. These junked-up online profiles are my latest pet peeve. But while I don’t really care which of my friends was voted #1 hottie or which Disney princess everyone is, I’ve long held that knowing how someone travels is an excellent indicator of personality.

Yesterday marked the official beginning of Chinese New Year. To many people, this late winter holiday means vibrant street festivities complete with fireworks, colorful dragon floats, and tasty Chinese goodies galore. To others, the term “Chinese New Year” barely rings a bell. But given the growing influence of Chinese culture, more people are learning about the holiday and making plans to participate in celebrations across the country and the world.

We all have travel rules we adhere to. I, for instance, firmly believe that there's always that smidge of a chance I might get upgraded if I make sure my purse matches my shoes. Or at least that I'm wearing shoes. You, for example, might have a complicated maneuver regarding the correct storage of overhead luggage or a strict don't-touch-the-comforter commandment when staying in a hotel.

I was recently pointed in the direction of the Rules Of Thumb website, which claims to compile "every rule of thumb on earth in one place." And, joy of joys, they even have a travel section. Read on for some popular rules of thumb for traveling. How many do you agree with?

Rick Steves, an avid traveler and author of European guidebooks, recently spoke about the value of travel in today’s world at a Bay Area event, a talk that was filled with thoughtful political insights and personal anecdotes. With a presidential election on the horizon and politics on the brain, one story he told struck me as especially relevant to the political climate of today.

During a trip to Afghanistan, a man approached Rick while he was sitting in a cafeteria in Kabul, a moment he recalls as his most memorable cultural experience. The local man said, “You’re an American, aren’t you? Well, I’m a professor here in Afghanistan. I want you to know that a third of the people on this planet eat with spoons and forks like you do. A third of the people eat with chopsticks. And a third of the people eat with their fingers like I do. And we’re all just as civilized.”

Although Rick admits his wife needed to do some “retraining” upon his return home, he ate with his fingers for the remainder of that trip, an experience he described as “a joy…very natural.”

I was able to catch up with Rick to get more of his thoughts on why he thinks traveling abroad is essential. He graciously responded to all my questions, as I asked him about everything from who will get his vote in the 2008 election to what travel follies he hopes his mom never finds out about.

United Airlines announced Monday that it would charge domestic passengers $25 each way to check a second piece of luggage. According to the airline web site, United will charge travelers with non-refundable economy-class tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change.

Checking a third bag would cost $100 each way. Previously, passengers were permitted to check two bags free of charge. According to USA Today, Southwest Airlines implemented a $25 fee for checking a third bag last week.

The New York Times reports that the fee also applies to passengers traveling to and from Canada.

That's right. You heard me. This suite is made from chocolate. 100% cocoa my friends. (Well, almost.) Can you imagine a room entirely of chocolate? I know it sounds like something out of Charlie and the Choloate Factory, but it's true. Besides the necessary structural elements Godiva has mastered the ingenious art of building a room from chocolate. In what I'd call their "sweetest" Valentine's day stunt yet they've constructed chocolate chairs, a chocolate fireplace with chocolate logs and ambient twinkling of fire. There is chocolate art, tables, books, bookshelves, chandeliers and more. To a chocolate connoisseur it's a dream come true. Of course you have to be careful about what you touch and where you sit and you have to take care not to aiming the lights at the carefully sculpted items or turn up the heat to high as there is a tendency for thing to melt. But it remains a feat. And it is a sight and, mmmm, a scent to behold! In short: it's divine.

Last week I was fortunate to explore this very special chocolate "suite" made as part of Godiva's annual Valentine's day giveaway. Not everyone can see this room but one lucky winner will win the Godiva giveaway and get flown to New York city for a rich weekend at the Bryant Park hotel where this suite will be put together again for their pleasure. And yes, the winning couple can feel free to eat everything that's not structural.

Hurry Valentine's day is approaching and it's time to remember your sweetie. Well that and the fact that your buying power starts at Godiva with boxes $23 and up. There's a chance to win in every box. Yum!

You know how some people just like being naked? It's the people who take their shirts off at sporting events for no apparent reason, that friend who is always suggesting skinny dipping, the guy or gal who tries to strike up a conversation with you in the gym locker room when they're NOT WEARING PANTS. You know what I mean. And if you don't, let me know, because I am going to have to find a new crowd to hang with.

Well I have good news for you exhibitionist (sorry, naturalist) travelers. Today, a German travel agency began taking reservations for the very first nudist flight, scheduled for July 5. The route is from the eastern German town of Erfurt to the popular Baltic Sea resort of Usedom and costs $735. Expensive, but a small price to pay to fly in all your glory. According to USA Today "The 55 passengers will have to remain clothed until they board, and dress before disembarking, said Hess. The crew will remain clothed throughout the flight for safety reasons."

This is even more scandalous than Kyla Ebbert!

photo courtesy of Hidden Beach Resort