What is the world buzzing about this week?
Costa Mesa (in Orange County - you know, the ‘O.C.’) has become a cultural mecca - well for Southern California at least - according to the New York Times travel section. Heading further south, Buenos Aires’ thriving 24-hour party-people scene and up-and-coming neighborhoods get the spotlight. (And the UK Guardian runs down vegetarian options in this land o’steaks). For the sophisticated thirst, London is shaking up a bevy of new cocktails. There’s a handy collection of articles and info on what do see and do in the American state of Georgia; and there are articles on Strasbourg, Iceland, and religious tourism in Cuba.
The San Francisco Chronicle tells why Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a good holiday option for kids, and explains how to avoid the crowds on Mexico’s Nayarit Coast.
The UK Guardian has discovered how to travel on much of South Africa’s famous Blue Train route for about a fifth of the price. What’s the secret? Leave from Johannesburg. They also give tips renting cottages, castles and other unusual accommodation in Ireland, as well has how to join the mile-high club on your own private (and oh-so discrete) flight.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s travel blog reports that the debut of in-flight mobile (cell) phone use has been delayed till May at the earliest. And British Airways has ’simplified’ the carry-on baggage situation for travelers by lowering the weight limit from 32kg to 23kg per bag. On the Herald’s main travel page, find articles on France (which has retained its number-one ranking as the world’s most popular travel destination), the Zambezi River (which offers more than just Victoria Falls), and New Zealand (there’s excellent cycling in Central Otago).
Elsewhere, check out the LA Times’ don’t-miss destinations. Things are moving again: Expedia has resumed selling first-class seats on Expedia; and the bigger planes are flying again in and out of Brazil’s Sao Paulo, where a legal ban has been reversed. It’s Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands versus their regional neighbors in the travel stakes as new passport regulations take effect. And travelers are finding Crawford, Texas, as popular as the town’s favorite son, George W Bush.
The travel news round-up finishes this week in Prague, where the English-language Prague Post newspaper has kicked off its annual ‘Best of Prague’ reader survey. We’re looking forward to the results. So exactly which are Prague’s best beer hall, pub and cafe? We’ll keep you posted.
February 10th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Re the tip about the Blue Train, his trick wasn’t to leave from Johannesburg but to go in a cheaper train (not the Blue Train). Another alternative is singles in the standard Shosholoza Meyl trains on the same route cost from R320 (£25). Myself - I’ll stick to flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:56 am
Re- ‘Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands versus their regional neighbors in the travel stakes’. I come across so many questions on the various forums from people asking if they need a passport to go to Puerto Rico. I think many people forget that PR is part of the US and as such it is like travelling to any other State. Maybe the PR tourism & government officials need to advertise ‘no passport’ required alittle more.