How to Fly Coach in Comfort

How to Fly Coach in Comfort
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THE TAJ MAHAL

Namaste from India! We left off last week from New Delhi. This week, we travel by train to fulfill a lifelong dream. From the moment I learned about the Taj Mahal, I've always wanted to visit it. And this week, that dream finally came true. Can you believe I went to the Taj Mahal? Sometimes I still can't believe it! If you want to see this masterpiece with me and discover what it's like to travel by train in India, then come on this journey. As an added bonus, we check-in to a hotel that's not only one of India's finest, but one of the finest in the world! Click here to read it the story.

LAST MIN TRIP TO TAMPA? GO TO ORLANDO INSTEAD

I’m in Orlando at the fantastic JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. Even though we’re a good 60-90 miles away from Tampa where this year’s game is taking place it still feels like Super Bowl Central. The hotel just became crowded (it’s sold out for the weekend) with lots of NFL execs staying here.

Orlando is a great choice for this year’s game because it’s away from the crazy football crowds, it’s cheaper to fly in/out of, there’s more hotel rooms and there’s Disneyland! If you are still planning a last minute trip to the game look at Orlando Airport/Hotels to save some money.

JetBlue to fly out of Los Angeles International Airport on June 18

JetBlue Airways today announces plans to further strengthen its commitment to Southern California by bringing premium low-fare service to Los Angeles International Airport beginning June 18, 2009. LAX will be JetBlue's third Los Angeles-area airport, and the 55th destination in the airline's growing route network.
JetBlue will kick off its LAX service -- from the airport's Terminal 6 -- with two daily nonstop flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and two daily flights to Boston's Logan International Airport, further establishing JetBlue as the leading airline between the East and West Coasts.

TRAVEL CONTEST OF THE WEEK

You know the economy is bad when some popular Florida hotels are offering $99 a night during high season. In addition, they are throwing in a raffle for you chance to WIN four days and three nights PLUS airfare for two from anywhere AirTran Airways flies in the continental United States. If you are looking to make a last minute getaway, check out these deals from Delray Beach Marriott, Hollywood Beach Marriott, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, Lido Beach Resort and the Marriott Key Largo. Offer is valid until 2/10/09, all Marriott Resorts are code "AXRP" all others are "AIRTRAN".

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Patak's Indian Recipes

Patak's Indian Recipes
I’ve been writing about my incredible trip to India and one thing that made it so special was the food. I love Indian food but I’ve never cooked it myself or even thought about attempting to. However, I found a recipe site online from a popular Indian brand called Pataks. They’ve been around since 1957 and they offer all kinds of Indian recipes. If you can’t make it to India this week, you can at least whip up a few tasty dishes!

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Babylon.com

Babylon.com
A friend of mine told me about this site. It’s a compilation of 25 professional dictionaries in 17 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, Russian, Korean, Swedish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish.) It has translation software that offers results from a database of 1,400 sources in 75 languages. My friend uses it for Indonesian correspondences (he does business over there). Whenever he comes across a word he’s unfamiliar with, he simply holds down the control key, right clicks over the word and presto - instant translation! The neat thing about it is that you can do the same with words like nugatory or neuston and get the Oxford English Dictionary definition, as well as those from other dictionaries. Pretty cool and easy to use. The only downside is that at $89, it’s a bit pricey.

TRAVEL PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: hf2™ Headset + Earphones

hf2™ Headset + Earphones by Kevin O’Connor

The hf2 high-fidelity, hands-free headset and earphones is just that … a high-fidelity, hands-free noise-isolating headset and earphones combination. I am using these headphones with my iPhone as the headset includes an in-line microphone and a music/call button that allows you to quickly answer calls while controlling your music. Overall, these headphones are very expensive for what you get (suggested retail price: $179). The noise canceling is excellent, but there was static when the cord moved and when I opened my mouth to talk, the inserts pinched and the music went silent. There is virtually no bass in the headphones, so if you like a lot of treble-type music, then these headphones are for you. I prefer my Skull Candy noise reduction headphones much more and would recommend them much more highly.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Twitter.com/VegasCom

Twitter.com/VegasCom
It seems these days, everyone loves to Twitter. I have a Twitter account (Twitter.com/JohnnyJet ) but I need to update it more frequently. However, one of the cooler Twitter accounts that I have seen was just set up by the folks at Vegas.com. The URL is Twitter.com/VegasCom and the best part about it is that someone is always monitoring the page so if you have a late night question about Vegas, just Twitter it. You'll have an answer within a few hours. As a bonus, every Tuesday they do "Twitter Tuesday Trivia" where they ask a question about Vegas and the first in-state and first out-of-state winners receive a gift bag from Vegas.com. Sounds like fun!

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: The Best Job In The World, Island Caretaker

The Best Job In The World, Island Caretaker
I briefly mentioned this site last week in my special newsletter but just in case you missed it, the tourism board of Queensland, Australia has come up with not only a great marketing ploy but an incredible job. Here’s the deal: The lucky contest winner gets to spend six months on Hamilton Island which is in the Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and get paid more than $100,000 for it.

Details: The successful applicant will have to report on their adventures via weekly blogs, photo diary, video updates and ongoing media interviews. Candidates can submit video applications online for the Island Caretaker position on the newly-launched website.

Eleven candidates from around the world will be shortlisted and flown to Australia in May, 2009. The winning candidate will be employed from July to December 2009. No experience is necessary.

TRAVEL VIDEO OF THE WEEK: The world’s busiest airport

YouTube

The world’s busiest airport is Atlanta’s Hartsfield International. Ever wonder what a sped up version of a day’s takeoff and landings look like from radar? Check it out here on YouTube.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: President Quiz

President Quiz

With the inauguration of our 44th president happening next Tuesday, I thought it would be cool to honor our past leaders by linking to a quiz created by National Geographic Traveler Magazine. Here's your chance to test your knowledge of Chief Executives with some presidential questions. Warning: I was a history major in college and some of these stumped me. If you like this quiz then you will love this civics lesson. This one brought me back to my college days and really made me clear the cobwebs off the ol’ noggin.

DEAL OF THE DAY: Hilton Doubles the Points

Hilton Doubles the Points

Through April 6, HHonors members will earn double Base points for stays at more than 2,400 participating Hilton Family hotels. Note that the bonus is for each and every stay. That's in marked contrast to many recent and current hotel offers that restrict bonuses to two or more stays. Registration is required. SOURCE: FrequentFlier.com

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: Mobile Inauguration GuideI

Mobile Inauguration Guide

I know that many Americans will be heading to D.C. next week to take part in the historic inauguration. I wish I was going too but I will be out of the country and will have to settle for CNN. For those who are going, you might want to check out this new iPhone and BlackBerry app called PointAbout. It’s a mobile inauguration guide, complete with bus and metro schedules, directions to the inaugural ceremony, weather forecast and Zagat restaurant listings.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: NYCGO.com/RestaurantWeek

NYC Restaurant Week
NYC Restaurant Week! From January 18 to 23 and January 25 to 30, choose fromover 250 of NYC's best restaurants and enjoy $24.07 lunch and $35 dinner. Book your table today.

TRAVEL VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Heart Attack Grill

CBS News
From Jim Ferri of The Trends in Travel and Tourism (Ferriandpartners.com/trends) comes this video from CBS News on a unique restaurant in Chandler, Arizona. While everyone this time of year is focused on getting healthy, this place is for those who want to be unhealthy. The name alone, Heart Attack Grill, gives you an idea of just what kind of food this joint has on offer.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: The Atlas of True Names

The Atlas of True Names
Do you or someone you know love to study maps? If so, then check out The Atlas of True Names. For a detailed account, log on to this story from The Daily Telegraph. But to give you a quick rundown, these incredible folded maps reveal the etymological roots, or original meanings, of the familiar terms on today's maps of the world. For example, where you would normally expect to see the Sahara indicated, the ‘Atlas’ gives you "Sea of Sand", Arab. es-sahra "desert, sea of sand". The 'True Names' of 1,500 cities, countries, rivers, oceans and mountain ranges are displayed on two fascinating maps, each of which includes a comprehensive index of derivations. Prices begin at £4.99 ($7.50 USD)

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Unofficial Sky Miles Calculator

Unofficial Sky Miles Calculator
This is for all of you Delta (and now Northwest; the airlines just merged) frequent flier junkies who are trying to figure out how many miles you’ll earn on a specific trip. This calculator not only tells you how many miles there are from point A to point B and then on to C and so on, but it also factors in the miles earned on a type of fare and your medallion bonus. Look at that! This will be sure to help ease the brain cramps in 2009!