Season’s Greetings from the Staff at TravelingBoy

We have designated this Holiday Season to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

Holiday Travel Hacks

Holiday season is also peak travel season. Millions of people are getting away on vacation or getting together with family, and you want it to go as smoothly and effortlessly as possible.

So here are the World Nomads Holiday Season Travel Hacks.

Video Will Make Up 75 Percent of Mobile Traffic in Five Years

That’s up from just over half of all traffic now.

JetBlue’s ‘All You Can Jet’ Pass Is Back

Courtesy Cynthia Drescher

How many free flights can you fit into one year?

Buy one flight, get a full year of flights for free. It sounds crazy, but it’s true for the next two weeks, as JetBlue awards travelers who book even one ticket on their website with a chance to win one of three ‘All You Can Jet’ passes for 2018. Dubbed “AYCJ” for short, the pass allows for unlimited travel from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. Hopefully winners are bursting with wanderlust, as these AYCJ passes will be valid for flights to the more than 100 cities on JetBlue’s route map, including international destinations like Mexico City, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, St. Lucia, and Cartagena, Colombia.

Four Affordable, Luxurious Christmas Getaways in Ireland

Courtesy Shivani Voranov

Christmas and the days leading up to the holiday are a magical time to visit Ireland, according to Siobhan Byrne Learat, founder of Adams & Butler, a Dublin-based company selling trips to Ireland. “The Irish go all out for Christmas with décor and celebrations, and the mood is cheerful and generous,” she said. “And over the years, it has become more of a cultural holiday for us than a religious one.” Ms. Learat said that while pubs and restaurants throughout the country are full of revelers, hotels have a lull in business, which means that enticing, amenity-inclusive deals abound for a Christmas-themed Ireland getaway.

Three Holiday Travel Myths You Can Debunk Now

Courtesy Joe Cortez

Year after year, holiday travelers often believe numerous holiday travel safety myths that are passed down through anecdotes. Although these tales may have at one time held some truth, the actual holiday travel hazards can create even more problems – or potentially be fatal.

When making holiday travel plans, it is critical to separate fact from fiction. Here are three holiday travel myths you can debunk right now, allowing you to focus on more important tasks as you plan gatherings with friends and family.

American Pilot Shortage Could Cause Flight Cancellations During the Holidays

Courtesy Tim Winship

Travel over the Thanksgiving holiday period was robust, and predictions are for similarly strong demand for air travel during the period between Christmas and New Year’s. For most airlines, that’s good news. For American, however, it’s a potential nightmare.

Cycling Through Cinema Sites in Europe On Freewheel Holidays’ Bike Vacations

The late actress Anita Eckberg showcsed Rome’s allure while splashing in the Trevi Fountain in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita. Scores of movies today have cemented plots in locales that, like the fountain, intersect with planned vacation itineraries offered by leading tour operators.

One trend-setting company, Freewheel Holidays, specializing in self-guided bicycle vacations throughout Europe, offers the chance to visit cinema locations on several of its 2018 itineraries. Included in program rates are lodging with breakfasts, detailed route notes, point-to-point luggage transfers and complimentary bike rentals.

Movie buffs or anyone with a love of history and adventure will enjoy these bike tours:

Dublin Makes National Geographic Travel “Best Of The World” List

Ireland’s capital city Dublin has been named as one of the 21 best cities in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. The list is an annual selection of “must-see” destination for the year ahead, and Dublin has made a claim for one of the finest cities in the world.

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

Tipping Etiquette Around the Globe

As North Americans, tipping is a reality, and we are sensitive that the wait staff receives their due. We generally like to tip at the amount of 15% to 20%. After all, the wait staff in North America depends on it.

But if you are confused about tipping in other destinations, we determined what’s best to tip outside of North America.

• Africa: 10% to 15%
• Australia/New Zealand: None (the wait staff is well compensated in their hourly salary
• Caribbean & Central America: 10%
• China: None. (Tipping is against the law)
• England: 10%
• Germany: 10%
• Ireland: 12%
• Italy: None (except for great service, where you round out bill)
• Japan: None. (tipping is considered rude, but you always offer your chef a beer)
• Middle East: 15%
• South America: 15

Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

Most Popular Instagram Photos of 2017

Residents view the first iceberg of the season as it passes the South Shore, also known as “Iceberg Alley”, near Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada April 16, 2017.

View the slideshow

Calls for Greater Fossil Fuel Divestment at Anniversary of Paris Climate Deal

Campaigners call for an end to fossil fuel finance and subsidies to avoid dangerous global warming at a meeting to mark two years since the signing of the landmark agreement.

MORE

12 Things You Should Never Do in an Airport Security Line

Courtesy Neil Gladstone

If you’ve ever wondered whether airport agents perform a necessary function, take a look at the TSA Instagram account. You’ll find a stupefying collection of objects confiscated from passengers, including axes, crossbows, and handguns (and that’s just in the last few days). Acting foolishly, though, can get you delayed from a flight or even detained. To help explain what you shouldn’t do in an airport security line, we tapped Lewis Sage-Passant, a former British infantry officer who is trained in intelligence and has worked in security and crisis management for several corporations, including Goldman-Sachs. These days, he runs How Safe Is My Trip, a company that creates advisory reports for people going to risky destinations.

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Christmas Trees

By Robert Frost

The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in country fashion in that there
He sat and waited till he drew us out
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was.
He proved to be the city come again
To look for something it had left behind
And could not do without and keep its Christmas.
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees;
My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
I hadn’t thought of them as Christmas Trees.
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment
To sell them off their feet to go in cars
And leave the slope behind the house all bare,
Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon.
I’d hate to have them know it if I was.
Yet more I’d hate to hold my trees except
As others hold theirs or refuse for them,
Beyond the time of profitable growth,
The trial by market everything must come to.
I dallied so much with the thought of selling.
Then whether from mistaken courtesy
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether
From hope of hearing good of what was mine,
I said, “There aren’t enough to be worth while.”
“I could soon tell how many they would cut,
You let me look them over.”

“You could look.
But don’t expect I’m going to let you have them.”
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few
Quite solitary and having equal boughs
All round and round. The latter he nodded “Yes” to,
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one,
With a buyer’s moderation, “That would do.”
I thought so too, but wasn’t there to say so.
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over,
And came down on the north.
He said, “A thousand.”

“A thousand Christmas trees! —at what apiece? ”

He felt some need of softening that to me:
“A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars.”

Then I was certain I had never meant
To let him have them. Never show surprise!
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents
(For that was all they figured out apiece) ,
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends
I should be writing to within the hour
Would pay in cities for good trees like those,
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools
Could hang enough on to pick off enough.
A thousand Christmas trees I didn’t know I had!
Worth three cents more to give away than sell,
As may be shown by a simple calculation.
Too bad I couldn’t lay one in a letter.
I can’t help wishing I could send you one,
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

8 Weird Things You’re Allowed to Bring on Planes

Courtesy Stefanie Waldek

Many travelers know the drill when it comes to packing your carry-on bag for a flight. Make sure your bag fits the size and weight requirements. Check to see if you’re allowed to bring a personal item in addition to a full-sized carry-on. No liquids greater than 3.4 ounces, no firearms, no large sharp objects. There are seemingly endless banned items, but if you read the fine print, there’s actually a whole range of odd things that you’re actually allowed to fly with. Here, we name eight such items.

1. Falcons
2. Antlers
3. Christmas Trees
4. Pies and Cakes
5. Cremated Remains
6. Camp Stoves
7. Parachutes
8. Bowling Balls

8 Neck Pillows That Won’t Embarrass You on the Plane

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Skip clunky, over-engineered travel pillows with these simple-yet-effective options.

Unimpressed by some of the newest travel pillows to hit the market? Many are virtually unpackable or outright embarrassing, with armrest-mounted stands or bulky padding that makes them quite the spectacle. Luckily, over-engineered travel pillows aren’t the only way to sleep on the plane; some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Here are eight simple-yet-effective options that won’t embarrass you or take up unnecessary space, making them some of the best neck pillows out there.

MORE

Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

MORE

Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.

The NAACP Warns that “travelers — especially African Americans … could [be] subject [to] disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe conditions.”

Courtesy Tim Winship

When Muslim Advocates and the NAACP issue a joint letter accusing the U.S. airline industry of racism, it’s big news. And when the NAACP, the “nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization,” follows that up with an advisory specifically questioning the racial policies of the nation’s largest airline, American, it’s nothing less than a media firestorm. Indeed, all the major news media covered the story exhaustively. And “American Airlines” has been a trending Twitter topic for several days.

MORE

The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights

MORE

10 Strange Laws from Around the World

Courtesy SmarterTraveler

From a stiletto ban in Greece to the pinball crackdown in South Carolina – give travel a unique flavor.

MORE

The post Catch Up With the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Staff at TravelingBoy

We have designated this Thanksgiving to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

Scott Pruitt Is ‘Hell-Bent’ on Dismantling EPA Rules

By Robert Redford

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

New Security Measures Implemented for US-Bound Travelers

US-bound air travelers from Europe and Asia reported that new security measures weren’t very different from those already in place, although more passengers were selected for secondary airport security screenings. Procedures vary by country, leading to confusion for some travelers.

ViaHero: How to Have a Local Plan Your Personalized Trip

Judy Koutsky

When Kevin Maloney started to plan his trip to Iceland, a friend mentioned a new service called ViaHero. “I knew there was a lot to see in Iceland and I had a short period of time. I didn’t want to spend a lot of personal time doing the research,” Maloney says. “My goal was to have an expert map it out for me.”

He was looking for someone with expert knowledge of the area, but tailored to exactly what Maloney wanted to do on vacation. “It wouldn’t have been difficult identifying some of the big landmarks, like Blue Lagoon,” he says. “But it would have been hard for me to identify great local food spots, or natural springs that aren’t in the guide books.”

So he signed up for the service and received a local “Hero” in Iceland.

“Uncommon Flavors of Europe” Campaign Will Promote Three Delicously Italian Ingredients for Three Years

Under the “Enjoy, it’s from Europe” program adopted by the European Union, a new campaign titled “Uncommon Flavors of Europe” will bring the attention of consumers to three products from Italy for the next three years through grocery store promotions in the U.S. and Canada: Asiago PDO cheese, Speck Alto Adige PGI ham and Pecorino Romano PDO cheese.

The Top 10 Most Visited Cities in the World: Mastercard Index

According the latest edition of the annual Mastercard Destination Cities Index, Bangkok, Thailand received 19.41 million international overnight visitors in 2016 — a figure that’s expected to grow another 4 percent this year to 20.19 million.

Rounding out the top three spots is London, which is forecast to receive 20.01 million international overnight visitors by the end of 2017, and Paris, which trails at an estimated 16.13 million.

Sports Tours International Invites Amateur Cyclists to L’Étape du Tour 2018

Sports Tours International, the UK-based provider of vacations built around nail-biting, world-class cycling and running competitions, is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.

L’Étape du Tour 2018 is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Annecy, France. The finish is at Le Grand-Bornand, a resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This finish was used in the 2009 Tour de France on Stage 17 when Alberto Contador famously went against team orders and left Lance Armstrong on both the Col du Romme and the Col de la Colombière.

Riders experience highs and lows while traversing a distance of 169km and climbing to heights of up to 4,000km, just like the pros when the 2018 Tour de France begins on July 7 and runs through July 29. For example, the Col de la Colombière will be the final climb for Stage 10 (Annecy to Le Grand Bornand, 159km) on July 17.

Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Roast turkey feasts, food comas, and football marathons are all perfectly fine Thanksgiving traditions. But if you’re looking to shake things up this year, check out these alternative ideas for T-Day.

All-Inclusive Pricing or Hotel

We’ve all been bushwhacked by hidden hotel fees. The one that always gets me is paying a ‘resort feel’ to use an oceanfront properties’ swimming pool, towels, beach chair, etc – the very reason that I selected that property.

Here’s an intriguing blog by Mark Kahler, which addresses that issue.

United Details How New Overbooking Compensation System Works

Courtesy Lewis Lazare

United Airlines launched a new voluntary overbooking compensation system Tuesday that will notify passengers upon checking in if they may be on a flight with potential overbooking problems. The notification will give passengers several compensation options, and if the gate agent chooses to rebook one or more passengers, travel vouchers will be issued.

How to Rack Up Airline Miles (Without Actually Flying)

You don’t have to book a flight or hotel reservation to earn points with these programs.

Courtesy Danielle Brown

When it comes to loyalty, we all know the typical ways to earn rewards – book a flight, open a rewards credit card, make a hotel reservation, enroll in a dining plan, rent a car. And chances are you’re earning points and miles this way already! While these methods tend to be top of mind, not many people know that there are actually a variety of ways to accrue valuable loyalty points.

Ready For A Nap?

Weary travelers can rent sleeping pods and shower time in the Nine Hours hotel at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport
Courtesy Chris Weller – Business Insider

There aren’t many frills at the Nine Hours hotel, but when you’re only staying for a nap or a layover between flights, soft sheets and a dark space are pretty much all you need. Nine Hours is a Japanese chain of pod hotels started in 2009, with each chain designed to accommodate people for between one and nine hours depending on their needs. For $44, guests gain access to a private pod, sleepwear, and access to the bathrooms and lounge. Or for $7 you can just take a shower.

Never Collect Inanimate Objects, Because They Collect You

I was forty years old when I read this statement many years ago, and it struck me like a thunderbolt. I got it! Over the next couple of weeks, I had begun going through the things I had been accumulating since I was married.

Canada Will Have the World’s Longest Trail Network in 2017

The Great Trail, also referred to as the Trans Canada Trail, is a 14,864-mile network of paths set to be completely connected by 2017, to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday.

Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.

Worldwide Vacation Rankings

U.S. News Travel’s Best Vacations rankings identify the top destinations by region and vacation type.

7 Frequent-Flyer Tricks Worth Learning

Master the art of earning miles, attaining elite status, and working the system to earn free flights and other perks.

Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

Milan Tour: Highlights and Hidden Gems with Francesca

I just returned from a spectacular vacation to vibrant Milan. Thanks to With Locals’ guide, Francesca Giorgetti, I was introduced to a Milan that I never even knew existed. Francesca personalized my family’s walking tour to our interests, which covered historical sites, unique architecture, daily life in Milan and secret insights in which we would have never known on our own. Francesca is a walking encyclopedia on all things Milan. If you have an obscure question not generally asked, she would jump on her iPhone and have your answer in a matter of seconds. A true high point, was Francesca organizing a tour of the La Scala Museum, which included her edifying oral history of La Scala, seeing intricate outfits, musical instruments, various stage props and an actual viewing of a rehearsal at La Scala from a balcony setting. We later learned that she was actually at the museum the day before, in preparation of our tour. Milan was great, but it became a multi-dimensional city experience thanks to Francesca’s expertise.

More information about tours With Locals

Hands down, this Canadian gem is our pick for the most hilarious, madcap travel show on the cybersphere.

In this zany episode, the Travel Guys take on Las Vegas.

WATCH Travel Guys Take on Las Vegas

The NAACP Warns that “travelers — especially African Americans … could [be] subject [to] disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe conditions.”

Courtesy Tim Winship

When Muslim Advocates and the NAACP issue a joint letter accusing the U.S. airline industry of racism, it’s big news. And when the NAACP, the “nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization,” follows that up with an advisory specifically questioning the racial policies of the nation’s largest airline, American, it’s nothing less than a media firestorm. Indeed, all the major news media covered the story exhaustively. And “American Airlines” has been a trending Twitter topic for several days.

MORE

One Day is There of the Series

By Emily Dickinson

One Day is there of the Series
Termed Thanksgiving Day.
Celebrated part at Table
Part in Memory.

Neither Patriarch nor Pussy
I dissect the Play
Seems it to my Hooded thinking
Reflex Holiday.

Had there been no sharp Subtraction
From the early Sum —
Not an Acre or a Caption
Where was once a Room —

Not a Mention, whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto Such, were such Assembly
‘Twere Thanksgiving Day.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Skip clunky, over-engineered travel pillows with these simple-yet-effective options.

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Unimpressed by some of the newest travel pillows to hit the market? Many are virtually unpackable or outright embarrassing, with armrest-mounted stands or bulky padding that makes them quite the spectacle. Luckily, over-engineered travel pillows aren’t the only way to sleep on the plane; some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Here are eight simple-yet-effective options that won’t embarrass you or take up unnecessary space, making them some of the best neck pillows out there.

MORE

This Is the New ‘Best Airline’ According to Savvy Travelers

Every year, Conde Nast Traveler gets a lot of mileage out of its Readers’ Choice Awards, with feedback from over 300,000 travelers.

According to the travel-savvy group that comprises Conde Nast’s survey base, the world’s 20 best are as follows:

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Emirates
5. Swiss
6. Virgin Australia
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. Asiana
9. Aegean
10. Cathay Pacific
11. Korean Air
12. Qantas
13. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
14. Finnair
15. Turkish Airlines
16. Etihad
17. Japan Airlines
18. EVA Air
19. Lufthansa
20. KLM

And in the Best U.S. Airline category, readers voted as follows:

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Hawaiian Airlines
5. Sun Country

The 10 Best Airports in the World

Skytrax has released its latest World Airport Awards based on what it calls the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. Nearly 14 million airport survey questionnaires were completed by 105 different nationalities of airline customers between July 2016 and February 2017. It covering 550 airports worldwide and evaluated travelers’ experiences via performance indicators including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration. The awards were handed out by Skytrax at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

See the top 10 airport winners

“Shoot for the Stars” Winners Announced by Global Connections

Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) has selected exceptional photos from nearly 1000 entries in its 12^th Annual “Shoot for the Stars” Contest.

First, second and third prizes were awarded in each of the three categories: Wild and Fun, Family & Friends, and Landscape. In total, prizes were valued at more than $3,000 overall.

“Another year, another amazing collection of photos from GDV members,” said Melanie Gring, GCI’s VP/Strategic Alliances. “Our members shared their memories from worldwide travels and it was a tough decision to limit our winners to only nine images.”

“It really is exciting to see all the places and activities our members experienced on their vacation,” she continued.  “We’re particularly fortunate these photos are so great because we use them in member collateral materials, on the website, and in testimonials.”

See the winners in each category

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in North Florida.

Dog Quotations

10 Free Scenic Drives for Budget Travel

Courtesy Mark Kahler, TravelSavvy

Free scenic drives provide some of the best budget travel values available. A breathtaking variety of vistas and views can highlight your stay in a new destination.

MORE

100 Trips Everyone Should Take in Their Lifetime

Business Insider UK asked 20 top travel bloggers and writers/editors from the likes of Lonely Planet, Suitcase, and Airbnb for the top five destinations they’ve ever visited – or the ones that are at the top of their bucket list.

Based on their advice, here’s a list of must-see places across the globe that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

MORE

Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

MORE

Tipping Etiquette Around the Globe

As North Americans, tipping is a reality, and we are sensitive that the wait staff receives their due. We generally like to tip at the amount of 15% to 20%. After all, the wait staff in North America depends on it.

But if you are confused about tipping in other destinations, we determined what’s best to tip outside of North America.

• Africa: 10% to 15%
• Australia/New Zealand: None (the wait staff is well compensated in their hourly salary
• Caribbean & Central America: 10%
• China: None. (Tipping is against the law)
• England: 10%
• Germany: 10%
• Ireland: 12%
• Italy: None (except for great service, where you round out bill)
• Japan: None. (tipping is considered rude, but you always offer your chef a beer)
• Middle East: 15%
• South America: 15

Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.

10 Strange Laws from Around the World

Courtesy SmarterTraveler

From a stiletto ban in Greece to the pinball crackdown in South Carolina – give travel a unique flavor.

MORE

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

MORE

The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights

MORE

The post Catch Up With the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

How to Rack Up Airline Miles (Without Actually Flying)

You don’t have to book a flight or hotel reservation to earn points with these programs.

Courtesy Danielle Brown

When it comes to loyalty, we all know the typical ways to earn rewards – book a flight, open a rewards credit card, make a hotel reservation, enroll in a dining plan, rent a car. And chances are you’re earning points and miles this way already! While these methods tend to be top of mind, not many people know that there are actually a variety of ways to accrue valuable loyalty points.

Scott Pruitt Is ‘Hell-Bent’ on Dismantling EPA Rules

By Robert Redford

JetBlue Adds Seats, Reduces Legroom

Airfares are low, but a checked bag will now cost you up to $95 each way.

Anne Wiazemsky, French Actor, Novelist and Muse to Jean-Luc Godard, Dies Aged 70

She was French culture royalty, as granddaughter of novelist François Mauriac and the lead in Bresson’s Au hasard Balthazar (1966). Later an acclaimed novelist on her own.

The 8 Best Lightweight Items Luggage to Buy in 2017

Making schlepping heavy luggage through the airport a thing of the past.

All-Inclusive Pricing or Hotel

We’ve all been bushwhacked by hidden hotel fees. The one that always gets me is paying a ‘resort feel’ to use an oceanfront properties’ swimming pool, towels, beach chair, etc – the very reason that I selected that property.

Here’s an intriguing blog by Mark Kahler, which addresses that issue.

Experience the Sedona Art Scene

Unique art galleries offer something for everyone.

Sedona’s beauty has inspired and drawn in artists from all over the world making it a popular destination for art collectors. The galleries in Sedona offer a diverse selection that appeals to art enthusiasts of all types. Whether you’re a collector of modern art, Native American pieces, or bronzes, Sedona’s bustling art scene has it all.

United Details How New Overbooking Compensation System Works

Courtesy Lewis Lazare

United Airlines launched a new voluntary overbooking compensation system Tuesday that will notify passengers upon checking in if they may be on a flight with potential overbooking problems. The notification will give passengers several compensation options, and if the gate agent chooses to rebook one or more passengers, travel vouchers will be issued.

Your Guide to Experiencing Oktoberfest and Its Historical Roots, One Stein at a Time

Oktoberfest is celebrated around the world, but only in Germany can you return to the original source of the world’s largest Volkfest. You’ve travelled for the live music, traditional costumes, parades and sheer joy of festival revelers. But after the Oktoberfest festival running from September 16 – October 3, it is possible to trace the festival’s historical roots while exploring Munich, and a side-trip to majestic Berchtesgaden, where the festival is very much an important part of Bavarian culture and heritage.

Here’s an alternative guide on how to do that

TIME CAPSULE CINEMA

Five Easy Pieces

By Walt Mundkowsky

Directed by: Bob Rafelson
Writers: Carole Eastman (screenplay, as Adrien Joyce), Bob Rafelson (story), Carole Eastman (story, as Adrien Joyce)
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Susan Anspach, Lois Smith, Billy Green Bush,Ralph Waite, Sally Struthers, John Ryan
Cinematography by: László Kovács

Ready For A Nap?

Weary travelers can rent sleeping pods and shower time in the Nine Hours hotel at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport
Courtesy Chris Weller – Business Insider

There aren’t many frills at the Nine Hours hotel, but when you’re only staying for a nap or a layover between flights, soft sheets and a dark space are pretty much all you need. Nine Hours is a Japanese chain of pod hotels started in 2009, with each chain designed to accommodate people for between one and nine hours depending on their needs. For $44, guests gain access to a private pod, sleepwear, and access to the bathrooms and lounge. Or for $7 you can just take a shower.

Happy Autumn from the Staff at TravelingBoy

We have designated this Autumn to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

Never Collect Inanimate Objects, Because They Collect You

I was forty years old when I read this statement many years ago, and it struck me like a thunderbolt. I got it! Over the next couple of weeks, I had begun going through the things I had been accumulating since I was married.

7 Frequent-Flyer Tricks Worth Learning

Master the art of earning miles, attaining elite status, and working the system to earn free flights and other perks.

The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights

MORE

10 Free Scenic Drives for Budget Travel

Courtesy Mark Kahler, TravelSavvy

Free scenic drives provide some of the best budget travel values available. A breathtaking variety of vistas and views can highlight your stay in a new destination.

MORE

Canada Will Have the World’s Longest Trail Network in 2017

The Great Trail, also referred to as the Trans Canada Trail, is a 14,864-mile network of paths set to be completely connected by 2017, to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday.

MORE

Nobel Says to Korea Nuke Players: We Are Watching!

They couldn’t award it to Kim Jong Un or Donald Trump; that much was certain.

But the granting of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons opened itself to a clear interpretation across Asia: When it comes to the nuclear-saturated war of words on the Korean Peninsula, attention must be paid and treaties must be signed. And it must be done in a preventative way, at top speed, before something happens that can’t be undone.

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The Bigger Get Bigger While Smaller Airports Suffer Greater Loss

Airports Council International (ACI) has released the latest edition of the World Airport Traffic Report. ACI’s flagship publication, representing over 2,400 airports in 175 countries worldwide, reveals that the world’s mega-hubs achieved passenger traffic growth of 5.5% year over year in 2016.

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Hallowe’en

By Robert Burns, 1759 – 1796

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta’en,
Beneath the moon’s pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

Among the bonny winding banks,
Where Doon rins, wimplin’ clear,
Where Bruce ance ruled the martial ranks,
And shook his Carrick spear,
Some merry, friendly, country-folks,
Together did convene,
To burn their nits, and pou their stocks,
And haud their Halloween
Fu’ blithe that night.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

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100 Trips Everyone Should Take in Their Lifetime

Business Insider UK asked 20 top travel bloggers and writers/editors from the likes of Lonely Planet, Suitcase, and Airbnb for the top five destinations they’ve ever visited – or the ones that are at the top of their bucket list.

Based on their advice, here’s a list of must-see places across the globe that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

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Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in Idaho.

Dog Quotations

The Most Affordable Countries to Visit in 2017

In the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, countries were given scores on 14 sets of criteria. These are not your typical tourist destinations, which can add to their price competitiveness.

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Money-Saving Tips all Travelers Should Try

As part of USA TODAY’s new travel research portal Embark, an expert panel of travel bloggers has been assembled to share their best advice to help you travel smarter, safer and more economically.

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What Not to Wear in the Airport Security Line

Roll through security like a pro by avoiding the following attire
Courtesy: Smarter Travel

The best way to ease through airport security is to dress for success. Certain garments and accessories could get you flagged for extra screening, slowing down your progression through the airport. Want to roll through the security line like a pro? Avoid wearing the following attire:

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10 Urban Legends About Flying That Aren’t True

Courtesy Caroline Morse, SmarterTravel

From terrifying tales about airplane bathrooms to mid-flight door-opening fears, there are a lot of myths about air travel flying around out there. Here are 10 urban legends that just aren’t true.

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Carry-on Luggage Tips for a Stress Free Security Check-in at the Airport

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Stay Informed, Stay Connected, Stay Safe!

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

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Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

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Tipping Etiquette Around the Globe

As North Americans, tipping is a reality, and we are sensitive that the wait staff receives their due. We generally like to tip at the amount of 15% to 20%. After all, the wait staff in North America depends on it.

But if you are confused about tipping in other destinations, we determined what’s best to tip outside of North America.

• Africa: 10% to 15%
• Australia/New Zealand: None (the wait staff is well compensated in their hourly salary
• Caribbean & Central America: 10%
• China: None. (Tipping is against the law)
• England: 10%
• Germany: 10%
• Ireland: 12%
• Italy: None (except for great service, where you round out bill)
• Japan: None. (tipping is considered rude, but you always offer your chef a beer)
• Middle East: 15%
• South America: 15

Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

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Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.

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Worldwide Vacation Rankings

U.S. News Travel’s Best Vacations rankings identify the top destinations by region and vacation type.

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10 Strange Laws from Around the World

Courtesy SmarterTraveler

From a stiletto ban in Greece to the pinball crackdown in South Carolina – give travel a unique flavor.

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Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

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The post Catch-up with the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

How to Rack Up Airline Miles (Without Actually Flying)

You don’t have to book a flight or hotel reservation to earn points with these programs.

Courtesy Danielle Brown

When it comes to loyalty, we all know the typical ways to earn rewards – book a flight, open a rewards credit card, make a hotel reservation, enroll in a dining plan, rent a car. And chances are you’re earning points and miles this way already! While these methods tend to be top of mind, not many people know that there are actually a variety of ways to accrue valuable loyalty points.

Even many frequent flyers, effortlessly racking up miles on each flight, are unaware of the many loyalty and reward options that lie outside the sky’s domain.

Earning miles can be as easy as going through your daily routine, treating yourself, protecting your family or giving a gift. All it takes is a little initiative and research to get you started.

Since loyalty programs are not one-size-fits-all, find ways you can earn loyalty points in ways that are tailored to your lifestyle and preferences. Airlines, in particular, have taken this idea and run with it. Many have created opportunities to earn rewards in unique and creative ways. Here’s a look at ten of our favorite options:

• Have an opinion: MileagePlus, Flying Blue and Rapid Rewards customers can accrue miles in exchange for sharing their experiences and opinions by completing surveys via United’s Opinion Miles Club, Air France-KLM Opinion Rewards Club and Southwest’s Valued Opinions.
• Catch a Broadway show: Earn miles while being entertained. Audience Rewards has partnered with American, Delta and United to allow members to win miles when booking tickets to hit Broadway productions like WICKED, The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King.
• Drink wine: Cheers! Delta Skymiles and United MileagePlus flyers earn miles by enrolling and purchasing wines with Vinesse. Southwest Rapid Rewards and AAdvantage members can also raise a glass with Laithwaite’s Wine program.

• Watch your favorite TV programs: MileagePlus and AAdvantage members receive 25,000 miles when signing up for DIRECTV. Kick back, and enjoy.
• Give flowers: And get miles. Sending flowers remotely is probably the biggest bang for your loyalty buck. Airlines including Southwest, Alaska, United and Frontier partner with flower shops nationwide like 1-800-Flowers, FTD and Teleflora, to name a few.
• Pay your utility bills: Cutting the monthly utilities check can have its perks. Delta, United and Southwest have partnered with regional and national utility providers so frequent flyers can earn miles for signing up and for dollars spent.
• Think smarter about energy: You might have to leave the ground and climb atop your roof for this one. In addition to gas and electric benefits, Virgin American Elevate and AAdvantage customers can receive up to 15,000 points and 30,000 miles respectively for installing solar panels on their homes. Be sure to read the fine print, though. Some offers are valid only in certain states.
• Be forgetful: JetBlue doesn’t want flyers to lose their belongings while traveling. They’ve teamed up with Tile – a mini Bluetooth tracking device and corresponding app that finds items in seconds – soTrueBlue members can gain reward points and hold on to their valuables.
• Protect yourself against fraudsters: United awards miles for enrolling in LifeLock’s identity theft program.
• Lend a hand. American Airlines awards miles to AAdvantage members who make donations to the USO in support of our men and women in uniform, and Susan G. Komen on a mission to find a cure for breast cancer.

These are just ten of the many unique ways you can incorporate earning points and miles into your everyday life. I encourage you to do some detective work and see what other options your favorite loyalty programs offer!

Scott Pruitt Is ‘Hell-Bent’ on Dismantling EPA Rules

By Robert Redford

Forty-seven years ago, none other than President Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing “clean air, clean water, and open spaces should once again be the birthright of every American.”

Since that hopeful launch of the E.P.A., both Republican and Democratic presidents have affirmed that environmental issues transcend politics. That’s simple to understand as the impacts of clean air, water and climate change impact all Americans, and everyone around the world.

What we need to pay more attention to, right now, before it’s too late, is the reality that we’ve put someone in charge of protecting the environment who seems hell-bent on the opposite.

Current E.P.A. head Scott Pruitt is moving mountains of policy in the directions he favors. And those directions don’t benefit you, or me, or our families. They only benefit the companies and industries that pollute and profit. And they will do whatever it takes to advance their agenda.

Now you can add censorship to the list of new E.P.A. techniques. Just this week, E.P.A. scientists who were scheduled to present their research at a leading and respected conference in Rhode Island, were told they were no longer allowed to even share their findings with colleagues. There is no democracy in darkness.

My heart goes out to all who have suffered and are suffering each and every time I turn on the news. These changes to our environment and future are very real, with very real consequences we are experiencing every day.

We simply cannot let Scott Pruitt’s slash-and-burn attitude toward environmental protections continue. It’s time to put renewed pressure where it’s most needed, in challenging and shining light on what is taking place every day at the E.P.A.

Here’s how: call your elected officials today and let them know you want a tough and science-led E.P.A. with the strongest mandates for protecting our environment and our future. Let them know what you think of Scott Pruitt’s leadership, and ask them to support stronger oversight of the agency, stronger scrutiny of their decisions and ethics investigations into any wrongdoing.

We only have one planet, one home, one shot. This is it.

Canada Will Have the World’s Longest Trail Network in 2017

The Great Trail, also referred to as the Trans Canada Trail, is a 14,864-mile network of paths set to be completely connected by 2017, to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday.

The East Coast Greenway, a proposed 3,000-mile bike trail along the East Coast of the United States, is impressive. But, just as they have when it comes to potato chip innovation and affordable health care, Canada’s got us beat in the world of car-free cross-country trails—like five-times-as-long beat. The Great Trail, also referred to as the Trans Canada Trail, is a 14,864-mile network of paths set to be completely connected by 2017, to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday.

The project began back in 1992 and today 87 percent of the proposed paths—12,905 miles of it—are already connected. (Not like it’s a race, but by comparison the East Coast Greenway is only at about 30 percent complete.) The goal for the next year is to finish connecting the remaining 2,050 miles, which once complete means you could technically traverse the length of the second largest country in the world, and get all the way from Montreal to the Yukon via the trail.

And the Great Trail is not just for bikes: It’s being built with summer hikers and horseback riders in mind, as well as with cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. River in the way? No problem. The project even includes entire stretches of water-based trails for kayakers and paddlers—about 26 percent of the total. Given Canada’s somewhat unforgiving terrain—much of the country is dominated by frozen lakes, dense forests, and barren tundra—building thousands of miles of navigable trails has been no easy feat, especially considering the vast network of local organizations building the trails and the fact that it is being paid for mostly by private donors, with the Canadian government matching fifty cents for every dollar donated.

So what happens next year when one hundred percent of the proposed trail will be connected? “2017 is just the beginning of our story,” Trans Canada Trail president and CEO Deborah Apps told Condé Nast Traveler. “The Trail will never be complete. We will continue to build and improve this treasure for generations to come.” Okay, you win, Canada.

Nobel Says to Korea Nuke Players: We Are Watching!

They couldn’t award it to Kim Jong Un or Donald Trump; that much was certain.

But the granting of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons opened itself to a clear interpretation across Asia: When it comes to the nuclear-saturated war of words on the Korean Peninsula, attention must be paid and treaties must be signed. And it must be done in a preventative way, at top speed, before something happens that can’t be undone.

Looming in the background of the award announcement Friday was the sometimes scalding, sometimes tepid, never silent geopolitical scuffle this year between the young leader of the third-generation Pyongyang regime and the always voluble president of the United States.

Even the Nobel committee’s language keyed in on that. It sounded like a plaintive cry to push parties to the negotiating table — to fix something that’s already cracked before it’s completely, irreversibly shattered.

The head of the group listed an assortment of the world’s nuclear nations when she spoke after the win. But it was easy to find significance in the two she mentioned before all others — North Korea and the United States.

And this was the immediate assessment from a Nobel historian: “The panel wants to send a signal to North Korea and the U.S. that they need to go into negotiations.” The prize, Oeivind Stenersen suggested, was also “coded support” of the Iran nuclear deal.

This year’s Geneva-based winner, known as ICAN, was cited “for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”

From the vantage point of the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding countries, where people shudder weekly at volleys of intemperate words and missile or bomb tests, such a treaty seems a distant dream. And few of the key players seem anywhere near a Nobel Peace Prize.

North Korea just conducted its sixth and by far largest nuclear test, moving closer to its goal of mounting a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile. It has repeatedly threatened to obliterate the United States from the map.

Such bellicose language from the North is common. It has spent years issuing over-the-top dispatches through its propaganda apparatus promising to destroy the United States.

In recent months, however, Pyongyang’s invective has been matched almost blow by blow for the first time by equally aggressive language from Washington under the Trump administration, or at least Trump himself. The U.S. president has shown no hesitation in cutting through the niceties of diplomatic lingo to excoriate the North and threaten to wipe it out of existence.

He has dubbed Kim “Little Rocket Man” and said his regime may not be long for this world. The U.S., of course, has one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, even after significant reductions since the Cold War. It remains the only nation on the planet to use nuclear weapons during a war.

In the past four weeks alone, Trump has used words like these, in a recent tweet: “Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!”

And Kim, who bestowed upon Trump the rarely used insult “dotard” and pronounced him senile, has used words like these:

“Now that Trump has denied the existence of and insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world and made the most ferocious declaration of a war in history that he would destroy (North Korea), we will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history.”

Public posturing, sure. But not exactly language that points the way toward common ground, either.

The tension in word and deed between Washington and Pyongyang has faded slightly in recent days as the in-the-moment news cycle marches forward, but history shows that to be temporary. Another early-morning missile test, another intemperate remark or worse will put it right back on center stage.

The awarding of the $1.1 million prize to ICAN helps that happen, too, though even the group’s executive director, Beatrice Fihn, said she “worried it was a prank at first” when she got the call from the Nobel committee.

Against this backdrop — and in Northeast Asia, a region that remains the only place where nuclear weapons were used against a civilian population during a war — the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in this manner implies one key point.

The influential body, which often uses the prize to set the agenda of where the light gets shone, is saying to Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, among others: We’ve got our eye on you, and the world needs to look harder, too.

Ted Anthony, the Bangkok-based director of Asia-Pacific news for The Associated Press, has traveled to North Korea multiple times since 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @anthonyted

Anne Wiazemsky, French Actor, Novelist and Muse to Jean-Luc Godard, Dies Aged 70

She was French culture royalty, as granddaughter of novelist François Mauriac and the lead in Bresson’s Au hasard Balthazar (1966). Later an acclaimed novelist on her own.

It’s an uncomfortable irony that, after her life has ended, Anne Wiazemsky risks being seen as a bystander in her own story. In Michel Hazanavicius’s enjoyable, but somewhat facetious new film Redoubtable, Wiazemsky, played by Stacy Martin, is depicted as a wry observer in her marriage to Jean-Luc Godard – the straight woman to his tormented clown.

Actor appeared in films by Bresson, Pasolini and Godard, to whom she was married for 12 years and whose memoir of their relationship was adapted into the 2017 film Redoubtable

In reality, even if she had never acted again after her debut – Robert Bresson’s Au Hasard Balthazar, which she appeared in at the age of 18 – Wiazemsky would have been remembered as an intensely haunting screen presence. As Godard’s wife and star, she went on to share with him the turbulent adventure of France’s political self-questioning in the late 60s, but it would be a disservice to portray her merely as a key supporting player in the convoluted epic that was Godard’s life. As well as chalking up several important screen roles over three decades, Wiazemsky triumphantly created a new career, becoming a successful novelist – her 1993 work Canines won the prestigious Prix Goncourt des Lycéens.

She was also a memoirist, spinning quasi-novelistic texts from her own experience. She wrote two quizzical, dispassionate books about her relationship with Godard, Une Année Studieuse (A Studious Year, 2012) and Un An après (One Year Later, 2015), the latter substantially forming the basis of Redoubtable. It’s only a shame that what’s lost in Hazanavicius’s film is a sense of the inner experience – the exhilaration, the confusion, the exasperation – that Wiazemsky conveys so candidly in her honed, highly classical prose style.

Wiazemsky’s screen debut could not have been more momentous: Au Hasard Balthazar is one of the most affecting and austere of French masterpieces. Wiazemsky plays a young woman living in the countryside, who has a difficult relationship with a Parisian suitor, and a symbolically charged one with Balthazar, the donkey that emerges as a transcendental martyr figure. Bresson famously required actors to show as little expression as possible, but Wiazemsky’s humanity emerges powerfully. The fragility suggested by her face, which has the calm radiance of a medieval saint, contrasts with the intensity of her gaze. Together they project an admixture of compassion, repressed desire and that elusive note of moral seriousness that is the base note to Bresson’s work.

Godard first cast her in La Chinoise (1967), as a member of a student cell grappling with Maoist political theory: beneath her earnestness we sense Wiazemsky coolly relishing the role, as if knowing that she embodies the worst nightmare of her parents’ generation. She also thrived working with such European screen provocateurs as Marco Ferreri (The Seed of Man, 1968), while her haunted demeanour gave an eerie edge to the savage, obscurely mystical world of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s hyper-subversive Theorem (1968).

Wiazemsky continued to act on screen until the late 80s, then directed a number of TV documentaries. She also co-wrote the screenplay of Claire Denis’s 1994 TV film US Go Home, a 60s-set story of a teenage girl living in the Paris suburbs and anxious to lose her virginity. The subject couldn’t be further than Wiazemsky’s experience of growing up privileged and in the glare of media attention, but it’s a film in which you feel that, however elusively, Wiazemsky gives us another angle on her own adolescence in a time of radical personal and social change.

The Bigger Get Bigger While Smaller Airports Suffer Greater Loss

Airports Council International (ACI) has released the latest edition of the World Airport Traffic Report. ACI’s flagship publication, representing over 2,400 airports in 175 countries worldwide, reveals that the world’s mega-hubs achieved passenger traffic growth of 5.5% year over year in 2016.

There were 46 airports with over 40 million passengers per annum in 2016 as compared to 18 airports in 2006. After years of consolidation and capacity discipline on the part of many airlines, the mature markets such as Europe and North America experienced an important resurgence in air transport demand, particularly at many of its large hubs.

On the other hand, a relatively higher proportion of smaller airports with fewer than 1 million passengers in 2006 experienced a decline in passenger traffic by 2016 compared with other size categories. This proportion tends to decrease inversely as airports increase in size. By 2016, 27.4% of airports that had fewer than 1 million passengers per annum in 2006 experienced a loss in traffic over that period.

“Despite the net gains achieved in both traffic volumes and operational efficiency, especially at hubs in major city markets across the globe, the downside of airline capacity shifts is that a proportion of smaller regional airports have either stagnated or experienced a reduction in nonstop destinations between cities,” said Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World. “It is important to highlight that the reason smaller airports remain in operation hinges on the fact that they contribute to the local, social and economic development of their surrounding communities. Strategies to ensure their sustainability are important if we are to have a robust aviation system.”

In 2016, nine airports graduated to the 40 mppa category.

• Barcelona (BCN, +11.2% or +4.4 million passengers)
• Taipei (TPE, +9.9% or +3.8 million passengers)
• Kunming (KMG, +11.9% or +4.5 million passengers)
• Sydney (SYD, +5.2% or +2.1 million passengers)
• Shenzhen (SZX, +5.7% or +2.2 million passengers)
• Orlando (MCO, +8% or +3.1 million passengers)
• Mexico (MEX, +7.7% or +3.1 million passengers)
• Newark (EWR, +8.2% or +3.1 million passengers)
• Shanghai (SHA, +3.5% or 1.4 million passengers)

ACI’s forthcoming Policy Brief: Airport networks and the sustainability of small airports presents business models and policy recommendations that facilitate the sustainability of smaller airports as part of a broader network of airports under the umbrella of a single airport operator.

Passenger traffic:

• Worldwide airport passenger numbers increased 6.5% in 2016 to almost 7.7 billion, registering increases in all regions except Africa, which had a slight decrease of 0.4% due to the region’s 1.7% decrease in international passenger.

During 2016, the highest number of passengers traveled through airports in the Asia-Pacific region:

1. Asia-Pacific (2.73 billion, up 10.6% over 2015)
2. Europe (2.04 billion, up 5.2% over 2015)
3. North America (1.79 billion, up 3.8% over 2015)
4. Latin America-Caribbean (588 million, up 1.2% over 2015)
5. Middle East (369 million, up 9.4% over 2015)
6. Africa (182 million, down 0.4% over 2015)

• Atlanta (ATL) remains the busiest airport on the globe with 104 million passengers in 2016. Traffic was up 5% over 2015 at Beijing (PEK) with 94 million passengers, maintaining second in world ranking. Third ranked airport, Dubai (DXB), also stayed in the same position as 2015 with 84 million passengers despite an impressive 7.2% growth throughout the year.

The world’s fastest-growing airports with over 15 million passengers are:

1. Bangalore (BLR) (22.2 million, up 22.5% over 2015)
2. Hoh Chi Minh (SGN) (32.5 million, up 22.4% over 2015)
3. New Delhi (DEL) (55.6 million, up 21% over 2015)

• Dubai (DXB) is still the third busiest airport in the world in overall passenger traffic, and has widened its leading position as the world’s busiest in terms of international passenger traffic ahead of London-Heathrow (LHR) throughout 2016.
• Shanghai (PVG) remains one of the fastest growing airports among the world’s top 20 airports for passenger traffic, moving from 13^th to 9^th place and growing 9.8%.  Los Angeles (LAX) also had a high growth rate of 8%, moving from 7^th to 4^th rank in terms of total passenger traffic in 2016.

The world’s busiest airports in international passenger traffic are:

1. Dubai (DXB) (83.1 million, up 7.3% over 2015)
2. London-Heathrow (LHR) (71 million, up 1.7% over 2015)
3. Hong Kong (HKG) (70.1 million, up 3% over 2015)

The world’s busiest airports in domestic passenger traffic are:

1. Atlanta (ATL) (92.7 million, up 2.7% over 2015)
2. Beijing (PEK) (73.8 million, up 3.4% over 2015)
3. Chicago (ORD) (66.1 million, up 0.4% over 2015)

Air cargo traffic:

• Worldwide airport cargo increased 4% in 2016 to 110 million metric tonnes, with mixed levels of growth across all six regions.
• Hong Kong (HKG) and Memphis (MEM) take the first and second ranks respectively for the busiest air cargo airports with 4.6 and 4.3 million metric tonnes in 2016.

Airports in the Asia-Pacific region handled the largest amount of air cargo during 2016:

• Asia-Pacific (43.4 million metric tonnes, up 5.4% over 2015)
• North America (30.8 million metric tonnes, up 2.4% over 2015)
• Europe (20.1 million metric tonnes, up 5% over 2015)
• Middle East (8.8 million metric tonnes, up 2.7% over 2015)
• Latin America-Caribbean (5.1 million metric tonnes, up 0.9% over 2015)
• Africa (2.1 million metric tonnes, up 1.3% over 2015)
• The world’s fastest-growing airports handling over 250,000 metric tonnes of air cargo during 2016 are:

1. Moscow (SVO) (256 thousand metric tonnes, up 28.8% over 2015)
2. Doha (DOH) (1.76 million metric tonnes, up 20.8% over 2015)
3. Hanoi (HAN) (566 thousand metric tonnes, up 18.2% over 2015)

The world’s busiest airports in international freight traffic are:

1. Hong Kong (HKG) (4.52 million metric tonnes, up 3.2% over 2015)
2. Incheon (ICN) (2.60 million metric tonnes, up 4.5% over 2015)
3. Dubai (DXB) (2.59 million metric tonnes, up 3.4% over 2015)

The world’s busiest airports in domestic freight traffic are:

1. Memphis (MEM) (3.80 million metric tonnes, down 6.1% over 2015)
2. Louisville (SDF) (1.91 million metric tonnes, up 3.3% over 2015)
3. Beijing (PEK) (1.14 million metric tonnes, down 1.2% over 2015)

Aircraft movements:

• Worldwide aircraft movements increased 2.7% in 2016 to 91.8 million, with mixed levels of growth across all six regions.
• Atlanta (ATL) retained its position as the busiest airport in terms of aircraft movements, followed by Chicago (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX).

Airports in the North American region recorded the highest number of movements in 2016:

1. North America (31.2 million, up 1.6% over 2015)
2. Europe (23.7 million, up 2.1% over 2015)
3. Asia-Pacific (22.9 million, up 7.5% over 2015)
4. Latin America-Caribbean (8 million, down 4.1% over 2015)
5. Africa (3 million, down 1.4% over 2015)
6. Middle East (2.9 million, up 7.5% over 2015)

Top 3 contributors to global aircraft movement growth by country share:

1. China (People’s Republic of China) (660 thousand increase in movements representing a share of 27.6% of the global increase)
2. United States (510 thousand increase in movements representing a share of 21.3% of the global increase)

India (257 thousand increase in movements representing a share of 10.8% of the global increase)

All-Inclusive Pricing or Hotel-

Which meals are included?

One of the first questions to ask about any all-inclusive offer relates to meal plans. How many meals are included?

Some all-inclusive offers will exclude certain meals. There are also likely to be specific times in which the meals can be taken. Meals offered at times that don’t fit your other plans could become a problem — and missing them is really not practical, because you’ve already paid for them.

Most budget travelers know that on cruise ships, alcoholic beverages often are not included in a rate that is billed as all-inclusive by most lines. There are packages on cruise ships for buying alcoholic beverages that can be purchased as extras, but aside from those options, you’ll pay extra for all drinks that aren’t water, iced tea or coffee. If this is important to you, make sure you ask about the policy on alcoholic beverages.

Another matter: will your all-inclusive meal plans entitle you to eat in all of the resort’s restaurants? Some of these offers exclude the best (most…MORE expensive) dining spots, sending the all-inclusive crowd to snack bars and buffet lines.

What nearby dining options are available?

Before you agree to an all-inclusive deal that covers meal plans, you should do some research about dining options in area adjacent to the hotel or resort.

In a place like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, there are scores of good restaurants in a relatively small geographic area. You might miss out on some excellent dining opportunities by signing up for meal plans that send you to the same place every day.

But other locations such as Boquete, Panama, dining options could be fewer in number and inconvenient to reach.

It’s important to check with previous guests or the local visitors bureau about restaurants within walking distance or a short taxi ride from the hotel.

Which activities are included?

For many hotels and resorts, the phrase all-inclusive means your room rate and meal plans are covered. But what about other activities you might expect at a resort?

Are green fees included or at least discounted? What about tennis or water-based activities like kayaking, snorkeling or fishing?

It is never wise to assume all or any of these activities will be covered in an all-inclusive agreement. Find out if hotel-only rates include these extras. If not, chances are good you’ll still have to pay for these activities in an all-inclusive offer.

Is there entertainment for children and adults?

Large resorts usually offer a “Kid’s Club” or some similar program aimed at entertaining children. A question to ask: how many of those activities are open in an all-inclusive pricing offer?

Some resorts with all-inclusive pricing plans don’t include anything for children that wouldn’t be available with a standard room rate. The same could be true for adults seeking evening entertainment.

If you’ll have to leave the resort for nightlife, is it really that convenient to eat your evening meal on the property?

What other perks are offered?

The people selling an all-inclusive option might be under pressure to meet a quota. While this won’t always be the case, the fact is that you are spending more money on the property than those with a hotel-only pricing arrangement.

Since deciding between hotel-only and all-inclusive pricing is a negotiation, it’s only natural to ask if there are incentives for choosing the latter option.

For example, will there be any free meals or snacks included? Any discounts in the gift shops? What about free rides to the airport or to the center of the city?

Another perk-related issue: will you earn extra loyalty points? After all, you’re spending more money than those with hotel-only arrangements. Why not at least inquire about extra points or a room upgrade?

As always, it never hurts to ask.

United Details How New Overbooking Compensation System Works

United Airlines launched a new voluntary overbooking compensation system Tuesday that will notify passengers upon checking in if they may be on a flight with potential overbooking problems. The notification will give passengers several compensation options, and if the gate agent chooses to rebook one or more passengers, travel vouchers will be issued.

After quietly testing the system last month in a handful of markets, today the Chicago-based carrier rolled out the new system in all of its United States hubs, including Chicago.

Now United management will get a much better sense of whether the system is working and whether it will remain in place for the long haul.

Basically, the new compensation system is set up to alert passengers at check-in (up to 24 hours before flight departure) whether they may be on a flight where overbooking could be an issue.

The alert will offer passengers on that flight — excepting unaccompanied minors and group bookings — the opportunity to decide the dollar amount in travel vouchers they would accept to change their reservation to a different flight.

A United spokesman said the alert will give each passenger three suggested compensation amounts to select from, as well as the option to name their own overbooking compensation figure.

The gate agent in charge of dispatching the flight in question will have all the compensation bid information in front of him or her if indeed one or more passengers need to be rebooked to handle an overbooking issue.

The gate agent will have the final say on which passengers are selected to receive compensation based on several factors, including which passengers came in with the lowest bids and whether any rebooked itineraries might create additional problems both for the passengers and for United.

If an overbooking situation arises and an insufficient number of passengers have volunteered to be rebooked in return for compensation in vouchers, then the situation becomes a matter of involuntary denied boarding. In such cases, United could wind up paying out up to $10,000 in hard cash to any passengers bumped from a flight.

United Airlines is a unit of United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL).

Experience the Sedona Art Scene

Unique art galleries offer something for everyone

Sedona’s beauty has inspired and drawn in artists from all over the world making it a popular destination for art collectors. The galleries in Sedona offer a diverse selection that appeals to art enthusiasts of all types. Whether you’re a collector of modern art, Native American pieces, or bronzes, Sedona’s bustling art scene has it all.

Sedona’s history as a vibrant art colony began when the pillars of the modern art world, Nassan Gobran and Max Ernst, opened the Sedona Arts Center. Modern art comes in numerous forms and is radiated throughout Sedona’s art galleries.

• Honshin Fine Art Gallery features the work of Nicholas Kirsten with the intention to communicate the unity of consciousness and life in all things.
• Gallery of Modern Masters sells hand painted chandeliers and lamps, as well as glass wind sculptures and distinct photography of the area.
• The Melting Point carries a variety of uplifting, fun, creative and whimsical glass items in the gallery. The gallery also offers glass blowing classes to make a masterwork of your own.

Sedona has been the home of Native Americans for centuries and has inspired artists from tribes including the Sinagua, Yavapai, Apache, Hopi and Navajo. Authentic Native American pieces like pottery, rugs and jewelry can be found all throughout the galleries in Sedona.

• Turquoise Tortoise offers original fine art paintings, stone sculptures, bronze sculptures, pottery, war shirts, as well as an extensive selection of stone jewelry set in silver or gold. They also carry an extensive line of southwestern rugs woven by the renowned Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico.
• Goldenstein Gallery is known for its diversity of world-renowned local and regional artists in all media and styles including fine art paintings, sculpture, fine furniture, jewelry and kaleidoscopes.
• Bearcloud Gallery embodies Native American spirituality and stories of ancient symbols.

Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures and Sedona is known for the exquisite bronze statues located throughout the town, as well as in its galleries.

• Mountain Trails Gallery Sedona is known for the quality of styles and subject matter including figurative, wildlife, still-life and landscapes, as well as work featuring western artifacts, historical narratives and cultural objects.
• Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art represents nearly 100 artists from around the globe and is one of the largest and most unique galleries in the world.
• Rowe Fine Art Gallery features traditional and contemporary southwestern sculptors, painters and jewelers.

Art galleries that are members of the Sedona Gallery Association offer a special showcase highlighting artists, special exhibits and art activities during the First Friday event of each month. First Fridays take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and are the perfect opportunity to experience Sedona’s exciting art scene in anticipation of the holiday season.

Explore Sedona’s vibrant art scene where you can find a wide variety of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography and much more. Whether you are looking to add to your art collection or buy a holiday gift for your loved ones, art galleries in Sedona make for the perfect stop. For more information on Sedona’s art galleries, and to explore additional galleries, visit www.visitsedona.com/arts-culture/. For a unique arts and culture experience, discover the seven secret sites in Sedona’s Secret 7

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